The boss' deputy! Australia captain Ricky Ponting with vice-captain Michael Clarke during the Mohali Test recently. Pic/Suresh KK

For Michael Clarke, India would certainly seem completely different from what it was four years ago.

'Pup,' as his mates call him, made hundred on debut in Bangalore when the Australians visited last and became a part of the group that conquered the final frontier.

In his debut Test, Clarke batted as if he was a seasoned campaigner and well qualified to give his senior colleagues a few tips on how to play quality spinners on a turning track.

Good performances followed and he was looked upon as one of the best Australian batsmen to emerge in recent times after Ricky Ponting.

But this time around, things haven't been as good for him. The middle-order bat has scored just 109 runs in two Tests, 69 of them coming in the second innings of the Mohali Test when Australia had all but surrendered.

Chance here

Already one-down in the series, Australia needs to win this Test to keep their chances of winning the series alive. A loss, on the other hand, would mean India regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

"It's crucial for us to win in Delhi, and important for the senior guys to stand up," Clarke said.

"I'm certainly going to take a little bit more responsibility in my own performances. I would really like to get some runs in this game. As vice-captain and a senior player, I realise that I need to give more to this team for us to do well," the right-hander said.

Having done well over the years, Clarke was rewarded with the vice-captaincy last year. And many believe that it's the extra burden of being Ricky Ponting's deputy that has started affected Clarke's batting. But he disagrees.

"Personally, I don't feel it has had too much of an impact on my individual performances," he said.

"My stats since being vice-captain probably aren't the greatest, but I feel as comfortable as I ever have," Clarke said adding that despite the 320-run loss in Mohali, the team was in good spirit looking to push for a win.

India on top

"India is playing very good at the moment but our preparation has been fantastic and we are looking forward to another great Test.

"Any match against India, that too in India, is always tough but our preparation has been excellent and we did everything possible over the last two days," he said.