Virat Kohli has accused Steve Smith of starting mind games on Test eve in Bangalore, where the skippers have shared contrasting views of India's plight.
Australia outclassed the top-ranked Test side in every facet of the game in Pune, recording a shock 333-run victory in the four-Test series opener.
A far more batsman-friendly pitch has been produced for the second Test in Bangalore, which starts on Saturday. It is unlikely there will be a repeat of India's shambolic collapses of 7-11 and 7-30 from the first Test.
But Smith hopes the hosts crumble under the burden of expectation that has built during the past week.
"I'm sure they'll feel under a bit of pressure," Smith said, also confirming he would name an unchanged XI.
"Going into this series, all I heard was 4-0 to them.
"They're 1-0 down and need to come back."
Kohli scoffed at his counterpart's suggestion.
"Does it look like it? I'm pretty relaxed. I'm happy. I'm smiling. It's fine - his views and whatever he wants to say," he snapped.
"It's time we focus on our skills more than what Australia is saying.
"I know these mind games in these press conferences are something they're very good at.
"We're still going to play the cricket that we've played for the last two years and see where the series ends after the fourth game."
The talented batsmen aren't the best of friends off the field - and they have a colourful history of on-field spats.
Kohli was fined for remonstrating with Smith during a 2014 Test at Adelaide Oval, while Smith took exception to a send-off at the same venue during a 2016 Twenty20.
Both sides are preparing for more of a grind in Bangalore, compared to the preceding helter-skelter contest that ended on day three.
Smith acknowledged the stakes were raised after he helped mastermind Australia's first Test win in India since 2004.
"We're one win away from regaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy," he said.
"Things can happen pretty quickly here, so we might be one or two sessions away from getting that back."
Smith's words speak wonders of the siege mentality his squad have adopted as they seek to record Australia's second Test series win in India since 1969.
Smith is actually attempting to retain, not regain, the silverware that is up for grabs. The classy right-hander would know as much, having scored a ton in every game and serving as stand-in skipper during the 2014-15 series.
The 27-year-old has implored teammates to keep their foot on the throat, while exercising the same caution they did last week.
"The way we played last week was such a positive sign. It was a difficult wicket and we showed them we can compete in those conditions and, more importantly, we probably showed ourselves," Smith said.
"This pitch is more likely going to be one where we are going to have to go really big (in the first innings).
"But it could play totally different to what we think ... it's about being able to sum it up and being adaptable and being able to communicate straight away what we think the wicket is like."
Kohli called it a "typical batting wicket - no surprises".
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