India require a further 103 runs to win the third Test against Australia after reaching 0-30 at tea on Monday’s final day of play in Mohali.

Victory for the home side would give MS Dhoni’s side a three-nil advantage in the four-match series and allow India to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which Australia won with a four-nil sweep in 2011/12.

While under-siege Australia’s hopes of victory have expired, they will push to salvage a draw in the final session with a minimum of 20 overs remaining.

Michael Clarke’s men resumed on 3-75 in their second innings on Monday and were bowled out for 233.

Brad Haddin (30), Mitchell Starc (35) and Xavier Doherty (18 not out) added 80 runs for the last two wickets. No.3 Phil Hughes regained form with a fighting knock of 69.

Clarke was clearly troubled by a back injury and was out for 18 batting at No.6.

The skipper, who fielded at slip in India’s second dig, could be in doubt for the fourth and final Test in Delhi on March 22.

Clarke’s vice-captain Shane Watson, one of four players suspended for the third Test over the homeworkgate affair, was en route to Delhi on Monday after returning to Sydney for the birth of his first child.

Having been labelled a good team man only “sometimes” by Cricket Australia’s high-performance chief Pat Howard last week, Watson is now facing the prospect of leading the side if Clarke is ruled unfit.

The latest twist in the Watson saga comes after the two-time Allan Border Medallist had called his ban harsh and claimed he was considering his playing future.

Watson now says he has had several constructive discussions with Howard and they’re both on the same page after what Watson described as an emotional week.