Australia have set India a target of 202 runs to win the Twenty20 international in Rajkot.
Australia began well after being put in to bat by the hosts, scoring 48 runs in the opening four overs before Nic Maddinson was dismissed for 34 by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Aaron Finch was the top scorer for the visitors, hitting 89 runs off 52 balls during an attacking innings that included 14 boundaries and a six.
Shane Watson was bowled out for six runs by Vinay Kumar, who also claimed the wicket of captain George Bailey for a duck.
Brad Haddin (5) and Moises Henriques (12) were both dismissed by Kumar to leave Australia on 146-5.
Glenn Maxwell made a quickfire 27 off 13 balls before he was caught by Ishant Sharma off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja.
A six from Nathan Coulter-Nile (12*) off the final ball of the innings helped the tourists reach 201-7.