Having secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne last week, India are well placed to win a Test series in Australia for the first time.
They were confident enough to be playing mind games over the fitness of Ravi Ashwin, who missed the Third Test with a side injury.
Captain Virat Kohli lamented his absence for Sydney, starting on Wednesday evening, but the spinner was bizarrely added back to a 13-man squad, with a decision to be taken on his availability at the last minute.
India must make at least two changes, after the Sharmas, Rohit (who has returned home to be with his newborn daughter) and Ishant (who has a rib injury), were ruled out.
KL Rahul should return in place of the former, while if India are seduced by Sydney’s history of taking spin, Ashwin or Kuldeep Yadav could come in for Ishant. Umesh Yadav is the pace-bowling option.
Putting together an Australian team, however, is more tricky.
In the absence of the suspended Steve Smith and David Warner (Cameron Bancroft’s ban has ended and he is back playing Big Bash), their batting looks broken and they are set to drop opener Aaron Finch and all-rounder Mitch Marsh in search of the answer.
Reports in Australia suggest that, with Usman Khawaja moving up to open, a curveball could be thrown at No3 by selecting the recalled Marnus Labuschagne or Tim Paine.
Australia have three Tests until the Ashes this summer, and are searching for answers fast.
