Veteran Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble wrecked Australia to leave the fourth and final Test hanging in the balance after 18 wickets fell on a spiteful pitch during the second day's play on Thursday.
India, who crashed for 104 earlier in the day, hit back to bowl Australia out for 203 with Kumble taking 5-90 and Murali Kartik 4-44 on a wicket where the ball turned and jumped to make life miserable for batsmen.
Trailing by 99 runs on the first innings, India were 5-0 in their second knock by stumps, needing a big score on Friday to put Australia under pressure and secure a face-saving win.
Australia enjoy an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after winning the first and third Tests. The second Test was drawn.
India: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Karthik, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Zaheer Khan. 12th man: Ashish Nehra.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Nathan Hauritz, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath. 12th man: Cameron White.
{{/usCountry}}Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Adam Gilchrist, Nathan Hauritz, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath. 12th man: Cameron White.
{{/usCountry}}Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (RSA) and Aleem Dar (PAK).
TV umpire: K. Hariharan (IND).
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).