The Future Cup caravan has finally rolled into the same venue where just over a fortnight ago, India’s cricketers received a heroes' welcome after their stirring win in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa.

People had gathered in thousands, braving the rains, to greet Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys on their arrival here. Memories of the cricketers’ open-top cavalcade are still vivid. But in most places between Bangalore, the venue of the first one-dayer, and commercial capital Mumbai, the Australians have brought the high-flying Indians crashing back to earth.

With the visitors leading 4-1 going into the final match of this largely one-sided series at the Wankhede stadium in a day-night affair on Wednesday, reality ought to have sunk in so far as the Indians are concerned.

Generous skipper!

Ricky Ponting has said more than once that India are tough to beat at home, especially in one-dayers. That may be true for most countries, but the Aussie captain is being generous if he equates his side with the rest. Since 1984, Australia have lost just one bilateral one-day series in 1986, and a tri-series in 1996.

Otherwise, the Australians have been ruthlessly dominant, sweeping everything before them, including the Champions Trophy last year. Has anyone mastered the art of beating India in their own den better than the Australians?

Looking at Australia's record and the wealth of talent, the series loss wasn't entirely unexpected. The 1-4 rout with one match to go has clearly shown that India have some distance to travel before they match the World champions in walking the talk. Having said that, India can certainly take heart from their loss in Nagpur, where they threatened to pull off a sensational win at various stages after conceding 317.

Fine comeback

It was a fine comeback from Dhoni's men after the drubbing in Vadodara. If India had forgotten the successful pattern of Chandigarh, the sixth game served as a good reminder of what it takes to run the Aussies close, if not beat them. A brilliant start and a meaningful partnership between Robin Uthappa and Dhoni in the middle raised hopes of a memorable win. A little more spunk in the middle-order may have provided a different script altogether.

It's this area, the ability to stitch partnerships during crises, that has set the Australians apart. Every time there has been a slip-up Australia have been able to get out of the hole with Andrew Symonds coming to the party.
The hosts have suffered because the stability Rahul Dravid usually brings to the middle-order has been missing.

The Bangalorean, who has 53 runs from his last five innings, is clearly under pressure to perform. It won't come as a huge surprise if the former captain is rested for this match.

The bowlers have done well in patches, but there are few options to tinker with the combination. Barring the Hyderabad game, India have fielded five specialist bowlers -- two spinners and three seamers -- through the series, with pacemen RP Singh and S Sreesanth swapping places. There is little to suggest that Wednesday will see a change in composition, unless Dhoni returns to the successful ploy of playing seven batsmen.

The final match, though of mere academic interest, provides one last chance for the hosts to redeem some pride.

The match also provides them an opportunity to field some of the rookies that have been warming the bench.

The likes of Dinesh Kaarthick, Rohit Sharma and S Badrinath's will hope their services can extend to beyond ferrying drinks.

Teams (from):

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Kaarthick, Rohit Sharma, S Badrinath, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Brad Hogg, Mtichell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Amish Saheba. Third umpire: GA Pratapkumar. Match referee: Chris Broad (England).