Rohit Sharma had a leisurely net session at the Holkar Stadium in Indore ahead of the third Test against Australia. Immediately after, he addressed an even more unhurried press conference. In more than half an hour, not a single question was asked about the pitch.

India’s spinners have been so on-point and Australia’s batsmen so off-colour in the first two Tests that the pitch has all but been taken out of the equation.

The first Test, in Nagpur, was played on a red soil track, and the second in Delhi on black soil. Both finished inside three days. Now, at Indore, they are faced with a hybrid. Looking at the footmarks created by the bowlers on the practice pitches, the top layer appeared to be red soil, with black beneath it.

As has been the case in the two earlier Tests, the only green grass on the surface is right down the middle, with the business areas at both ends being more dry and bare.

The rough patches created by the bowlers could play an even more pronounced role in this Test match, with the changes Australia are likely to make. The left-arm pace of Mitchell Starc, coming in for Pat Cummins, means that there will be areas for the spinners to work with on either side of the stumps.

Also, it appeared possible that a fit-again Cameron Green would come in for Matt Renshaw. What this means is that Australia’s middle order comprises four right-hand batsmen after the two left-handed openers. This again is a change in dynamic that India’s spinners will have to work with.

Steve Smith, who will lead Australia, held his cards as close to his chest as possible. While the most likely outcome was going to be five bowling options, exactly what these would be was not clear. It could be three spinners as in the first two Tests or an extra pace option. Scott Boland attacks the stumps and Lance Morris provides extra pace through the air. Smith insisted that he would back batsmen for whom the sweep is a productive shot, even after the stroke was the team’s collective undoing in Delhi. “What we need to do is stick to our plans for longer periods of time,” said Smith. “In Delhi, in the second innings, some of us went away from our plans, which obviously did not go well. In India, I’ve found that the early part of the innings is always a challenge. If you can see through that and get a start, you get a better read of the pace of the pitch and what the ball is doing. Then you have to make it count, knowing that it’s going to be hard for the next guy coming in.”

Around India, the only real conversation was around KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. In the two days leading to the Test, both batsmen put in the hard yards. Looking from afar, it was impossible to tell whether the team management had made a decision one way or another. And Rohit clarified that Rahul being relieved of vice-captaincy made absolutely no difference in how the think-tank perceived the batsman.

Smith also spoke of the need for Australia to try and slow things up a bit in order to remain calmer when put under pressure by India’s spinners. “We don’t have to play at such a high tempo and risky tempo,” said Smith. “They know when they are on top of you, they’ll try and rush you and play on their terms. For us, when we’re under pressure it’s about slowing it down as much as we can; maybe making them wait a little bit, walk away and regain your thoughts rather than just coming back and back.”

This might be easier said than done. Rohit, an astute captain, admitted that there had been conversations around this in the Indian dressing room. “These are things we learn as young kids growing up playing cricket in India,” said Rohit. “When a new batsman comes to the crease, for example, it is important that the field is in place and the bowler is at the top of his mark with the ball in hand. You don’t want to give the new batsman a little bit of extra time to chat with his partner or settle down.”

Rarely does an entire series take place at breakneck pace. Over four Test matches, you expect partnerships to be built, by both teams. The time is ripe for Australia to show that they have not lost the mental battle even before the first ball is bowled.