While rain may have the final say in deciding the current match, if the trend continues India will struggle to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
At stumps on the third day India were 4-51 and still trailing by 394 runs on the first innings.
This is now the eighth Test in a row in which India's batsmen have disappointed in the first innings, stretching back to their two-Test series against Bangladesh in September.
None of the top seven have made a century and collectively they now average less than 22 during that period.
Their demise on day three on Monday was partly of their own making while also due to excellent bowling by Australia's pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) flicked a Starc half-volley straight to Mitch Marsh at square leg. Shubman Gill (1) drove loosely at Starc with an open bat face to be brilliantly snaffled by Marsh in the gully.
Virat Kohli (3) and Rishabh Pant (9) were out to ripsnorters by Hazlewood and Cummins respectively.
The other worry for India is the Australian pace trio have the wood on several of their top order.
Jaiswal, who did make a brilliant second innings 161 in Perth, has now been dismissed three times in the series by Starc, as has opening partner KL Rahul.
Cummins has removed Pant three times.
India's struggles are also highlighted by the fact Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 100 in the second innings in Perth, has only managed one score exceeding 10 in the first innings of his past eight Tests.
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