OMGSACHIN: Exclusive Pics : Sachin Tendulkar During India's Training Session, March 13, Mohali

Exclusive Pics : Sachin Tendulkar During India's Training Session, March 13, Mohali

In the driver's seat after two convincing wins, the stage is perfectly set for India to record their biggest-ever series win over a depleted Australia, who have been rocked by off-field controversies and dissensions, ahead of the third Test starting in Mohali on Thursday.

If the humiliating losses in Chennai and Hyderabad were not enough, the once mighty Australians were dealt a body blow with the expulsion of four key players, including vice-captain Shane Watson, for breach of discipline, ahead of their must-win game at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.

While India had been whitewashed on quite a few occasions by the Kangaroos, the hosts' best efforts so far had been the 2-0 wins in 1979-80 (out of six Tests under Kim Hughes), 2008-09 (four matches) and 2010-11 (two games - both under Ricky Ponting's captaincy).