India will resume on the final day at 3-164 with Virat Kohli (44) and Ajinkya Rahane (20) at the crease, still needing a further 280 to pull off an unlikely win at The Oval.
If they were to pull off the win it would mark the highest-ever fourth innings target chased down in Test history, eclipsing West Indies’ 418 against Australia in 2003.
“We believe we can win the match,” quick Mohammed Shami said.
“We have performed well overseas not just in England. We will come together to win this.
“If you bat well, 280 runs is not a big score.
“You should bat normally as a Test match. You should focus on playing ball by ball. You should not look at the long target. “
India have grown accustomed to causing heartache for Australia on the final day of Tests.
They pulled off an unlikely draw in Sydney in 2021, when set 407 with 131 overs left to bat on the final day-and-a-half at the SCG.
For a while they looked likely to pull off the chase courtesy off a quick-fire 97 from Rishabh Pant, before a hobbling Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin saw out a draw.
They then won the series in the next Test, chasing down 329 on day five at the Gabba with three overs and three wickets left to end Australia’s 32-year unbeaten run at the venue.
India did not have Kohli at their disposal for either of their games, but will have the batting maestro in the middle on Sunday.
“Everyone believes tomorrow we will win the match,” Shami said.
“Because we have always fought. We perform well around the world. Not just here.
“It doesn’t matter about Sydney or Brisbane, we are playing here. We have to think about tomorrow and we will win the match.”