Calcutta/Brisbane: The Indians were the ones who were on the hot seat, answering all the uncomfortable questions, for most of the Australian summer.
But of late, the order has been reversed and it is the Australians who are struggling to find answers to their woes. After back-to-back losses against India and Sri Lanka, Australia, in their own backyard, is under pressure to get their act right.
However, India will not be complaining about such a situation. As they prepare to lock horns with the Aussies, in Brisbane, on Sunday, the mood should be confident and the atmosphere in the dressing room upbeat.
India, in fact, are sitting pretty at the top of the points table at the halfway stage of the tournament.
And that is why, Australia's slump has been good for the tournament. Just three points separate the three teams and hence the second half of the tournament should unfold a fascinating contest.
Sri Lanka inflicted a crushing defeat on Australia, on Friday, and that must have shaken the hosts' confidence. But little separates the teams and all could change quickly, courtesy some inspired performances.
India have shown their appreciation of the situation and the last couple of days have been hard workouts for the boys.
The good form of Gautam Gambhir has certainly been a boost for the Indians. Gambhir has kicked on with two brilliant near-centuries in Adelaide and has 188 runs from three matches at an average of 62.65. He also has an impressive strike rate of 83.55.
The good start provided by the Delhi opener has allowed others to ply their trade more freely. So Gambhir's teammates will again expect a similar show from the left-hander in their quest to humble the Aussies.
The Indian bowlers, to be fair, have enhanced their one-day reputation on the present tour. A largely young side, they surely have displayed a good grasp of one-day ethics.
They have learnt to bowl to their field and have been intelligent while bowling in the death overs.
Coming on to fielding, the Indian outfit, buoyed by youth, has shown remarkable agility and sharpness to keep oppositions under check.
Australia, meanwhile, are in a muddle. Their top order is just not functioning and there is too much on the plate for the Hussey brothers ' Mike and David ' in the middle.
Complicating matters, regular captain Michael Clarke's absence, due to a hamstring pull, will not be helping the side. Clarke's stupendous form with the bat during the Test series against India could well have helped the team in this crisis.
Ricky Ponting, who will stand in for Clarke as the captain on Sunday, has had an utterly miserable one-day series so far. The former skipper, who, like Clarke, had an impressive Test series preceding the one-dayers, has a mere 11 runs from four innings at a 2.75 average!
Also weighing on his mind must be the captaincy factor as his experience in the last game, against Sri Lanka, where he led the side, was humiliating.
Among the others, left-handed opener David Warner is causing a revision in opinion about his talent. His eye-catching strokeplay has been missing in the tri-series so far and he has to do something about it to keep his place in the side.
Warner has 71 runs from four innings at 17.75 and Australia are surely worried about the turbulence at the top.
AUSTRALIA'S LIKELY XI
David Warner, Matthew Wade, Ricky Ponting, Peter Forrest, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc/Ben Hilfenhaus, Xavier Doherty.
Umpires: Brent Bowden and Steve Davis; TV: Bruce Oxenford
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft
Match starts: 8.50 am (IST)
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