Clarke scores ton as Sri Lanka fight back
Australia's captain Michael Clarke hits a boundary during the second day of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground December 27, 2012.Reuters

In real life, kicking someone when they are down is not something that would endear yourself to the masses. In sport, however, rubbing salt into an already gaping wound is exactly what is expected from a team that is on top.

That scenario will be on view when India host Australia for the third Test in Mohali, with the visitors' camp in complete and utter disarray following the banishment of four players for not doing their "homework."

India are already 2-0 up in the four-match series after two emphatic wins in Chennai and Hyderabad, and there really looks only one result coming out of the match in Mohali - a 3-0 lead for India.

Australia will be without Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Johnson and James Pattinson after the quartet was censured by the Aussie management for not making a presentation on how to improve the team.

The four will play no part in the third Test, with Watson also looking likely to miss the fourth having flown back to Australia to be with his wife who is expected to deliver a baby soon.

This Australian team will have one experienced campaigner in their team without Watson - captain Michael Clarke. The next most experienced player is Brad Haddin, who is only expected to play if first-choice wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is not passed fit.

Watson was also probably Australia's second best batsman; add to that the visitors have also lost their best bowler in the series so far in Pattinson.

The Aussie quick was outstanding in the first Test in Chennai and impressed again in Hyderabad and will be sorely missed on the one pitch in India which is expected to have some pace and bounce.

India, on the other hand, are sitting pretty with little to worry about. They were far superior in the first two Tests, and even if the Mohali wicket might be a little different from the ones in the first two Tests, the hosts are expected to complete another victory.

Dhoni will not have too many selection headaches with his side performing extremely well. Either Shikhar Dhawan or Ajinkya Rahane will come in place of the dropped Virender Sehwag and partner Murali Vijay.

Whoever gets the nod, it will be the perfect opportunity to cement their place in the team and possibly book a flight to the South Africa tour later this year

Harbhajan Singh was not exceptional in the second Test, but is expected to retain his place in the side with Pragyan Ojha again the unlucky one to sit out.

India's spin attack has been the deciding factor in the series so far, but the potency shown by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar in the second Test was extremely pleasing and with the ball expected to swing and seam a little in the early stages, the young pacer could be a handful for the Australian batsmen.

Clarke has revealed he will bat up the order in the third Test, although he has not decided whether it will be at No. 3 or 4. The skipper should have really made this decision in the second Test, after seeing his inexperienced batsmen capitulate in Chennai.

India start the overwhelming favorites, but if Australia can call upon some of the magic of that dominating team of old, there might just be a surprise in store; don't count on it, though.

Expected Starting XI: India: Dhoni (capt), Vijay, Dhawan, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Jadeja, Ashwin, Harbhajan, Kumar, Sharma.

Australia: Clarke (capt), Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Smith, Haddin/Wade, Henriques, Maxwell, Starc, Siddle, Lyon.