A listless India were heading for their second successive overseas whitewash after yet another irresponsible batting display reduced the visitors to 166 for six on the fourth day of the final cricket Test against Australia on Friday.

Set a daunting target of 500, India were left with an arduous task of batting out the entire fifth day to prevent the dominating Australians to sweep the series 4-0 in what has turned out to be a completely lop-sided encounter.

Having lost 0-4 in England last year, India now face the ignominy of losing eight straight Test matches overseas.

The star-studded line-up, that has flattered to deceive throughout the series, failed once again with skipper Virender Sehwag leading the way as he got out in an atrocious manner after smashing his way to a half century.

At stumps, Ishant Sharma (2) and Wriddhiman Saha (0) were holding fort and it will be a mere formality for Australia to take the remaining four wickets on the fifth day. The Indians were still trailing by 334 runs.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon finally came on to his own with 3 for 57 in India's second innings so far.

Opener Gautam Gambhir (3) and Sehwag (62, 53 balls, 12x4) left in the post-lunch session while Rahul Dravid (25), Sachin Tendulkar (13), VVS Laxman (35) and Virat Kohli (22) were back in the hut in the final session.

Gambhir was the first one to leave on 3 when he tried to push hard at a Ryan Harris delivery that was pitched around off-stump and moved a shade and the nick was smartly taken by Brad Haddin behind stumps.

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