India believe a bounce barrage may be the best way to tame their Australian nemesis Travis Head.
Pacer Akash Deep, who made a valuable contribution with the bat for India to avoid the follow-on in the drawn Test at the Gabba, revealed plans for Head needed to change ahead of Boxing Day.
The 30-year-old has been in rare form, smashing centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane to certify himself as India's most in-demand wicket.
Head has made 409 runs at an average of 81.80 across the first three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series, dominating India even as the rest of Australia's batters have faced significant issues against Jasprit Bumrah.
The left-hander already broke Indian hearts last year when he starred in Australia's World Test Championship and ODI World Cup final wins.
"As fast bowlers, we will stick to the same deliveries and maintain discipline in our bowling," Deep said on Sunday in Hindi, translated to English.
"We will bowl from both over and around the wicket, assess the pitch and conditions, and plan accordingly.
"I think Travis Head, in particular, struggles against short balls.
"We won't let him settle at the crease.
"We'll target specific areas and hope to force him into mistakes, which will create chances for us."
India trained at the MCG on Sunday, with under-pressure Rohit Sharma suffering a hit on the knee while in the nets.
An ice pack was placed on Rohit's left knee, and he also received some treatment from the team physio.
Deep said he was not concerned and expected the 37-year-old to play in the crucial fourth Test, starting on Thursday.
Unlike Ravindra Jadeja's press conference on Saturday when there was confusion about why the star allrounder didn't take any questions in English, it was made clear to Australian journalists before that Deep would only be answering in Hindi.
Sections of India's touring party and the country's travelling media remain upset by how some Australia outlets covered Jadeja's appearance.
A planned friendly media game at Junction Oval in St Kilda on Sunday was cancelled after some touring journalists pulled out in solidarity with India's media manager.
India won't train on Monday as they have a rest day, but Rohit is due to address the media on Tuesday.
