If the 3-0 drubbing was not enough, former Australian cricketer Rodney Hogg pushed the Australians further on the backfoot by criticising Australian skipper Steve Smith for 'picking his mates' in the national side.

Australia have lost 11 out of 13 overseas matches and they won last against Ireland in 2016. In the five match series against India, the Australians failed to win the series decider in Indore as India clinched the series.

"They’re picking their mates. Smith shouldn’t be a selector. (Ashton) Agar’s been pushed through and (Hilton) Cartwright’s still there. We saw (Nic) Maddinson get selected (he’s) a mate, he’s one of Steve Smith’s mates," Hogg was quoted as saying by news.com.au.

"You can’t pick bloody mates! We've got to get fair dinkum. We're really off the ball a bit here ... I think the captain's getting his own way," Hogg added.

However, Australian opener David Warner came to his skipper's rescue and rubbished the allegations.

"Everyone is going to have their opinions and they are entitled to have their opinions. I don't know from where all these theories crop up from. It is up to the selectors to pick the team and at the end of the day, if you are picked up, you go out there and give your best. That is how it always has been," Warner said.

Australia are under tremendous pressure as a formidable India are determined to complete yet another whitewash. The two teams will now meet at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore for the penultimate ODI.