India captain Virat Kohli's breezy 85 went in vain as Australia prevailed by 12 runs in the final T20 International, to avoid a series whitewash at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Chasing 187 to sweep the three-match series, Kohli kept India in the hunt before falling in the penultimate over, in the first full-capacity cricket match in Australia since the COVID-19 outbreak.
India needed 44 runs from the final three overs, but when hard-hitting Hardick Pandya skied a Adam Zampa leg-spinner to Aussie skipper Aaron Finch, the game turned in the hosts' favour.
Kohil struck 3 sixes and four boundaries in his 61-ball stay, but couldn't clear the rope with Andrew Tye's first ball of the 18th over, and was caught smartly by Daniel Sams.
Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson scooped the Man of the Match award, taking 3-23 from four overs, dismissing Shikhar Dhawan, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer.
Earlier, Matthew Wade smashed a career-best 80 as he and Glenn Maxwell powered Australia to 186/5, with the pair sharing a third-wicket stand of 90 in 52 balls.
Wade blazed seven fours and two sixes in his 53-ball stay, while Maxwell continued his commanding form with a 36-ball 54 - his fourth half-century of the international summer.
Australia had won the preceding ODI series 2-1.
The teams will now lock horns in a four-test series starting on December 17 at Adelaide, in the first-ever day-night tests between the two sides.
