India vs Australia - One off Twnty20 cricket match at Melbourne

The world champions will attempt to keep their unbeaten run against the challengers intact as India seek to confirm their status as the world's best Twenty20 side.

Australia will surely want to settle some scores, having lost both their previous Twenty20 encounters. The Aussies lost to India in the semifinals of the World Twenty20 Championship by 15 runs. A month later, India beat them at Mumbai by seven wickets to notch up a 2-0 record.

MS Dhoni has already said he is treating this as a practice match and is not bothered by the results. Good tactics from the young captain. He's not taking any undue pressure - something that was critical during India's success at the World Championship.

India skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first in the one-off Twenty20 match against Australia.

Ricky Ponting is out with a back injury and Brad Hodge has been included in his place. Michael Clarke is leading the side.

India have not included Sachin Tendulkar. They will miss Yuvraj Singh and RP Singh as well - both out with injuries.

India's Playing Eleven:

Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, MS Dhoni (capt), Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma.

Australia's Playing Eleven:

Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, David Hussey, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, James Hopes, Nathan Bracken, Ashley Noffke, Adam Voges.

India was struggling at 38/5 after 8 overs.