Coulter-Nile expects Aussies to fight back

Despite the loss on Saturday night, Australia quick Nathan Coulter-Nile says the visitors still have the momentum they gathered from the preceding T20I series win over India.

While Australia lost the first of five one-day internationals against India by six wickets in Hyderabad, they took out the two-match T20I series 2-0 with a thrilling win in Vizag then a commanding run chase in Bengaluru to seal the clean sweep.

Coulter-Nile says the closeness of the contest in Hyderabad and the evenness of the competing nations has Australia holding the momentum heading into Tuesday's second match in Nagpur. 

"I don't think it shifts too much," Coulter-Nile said after play. 

"They're one-nil up in this series so they've got the upper hand, but it was a really closely fought game. 

"We played well, they played better in the end but I think it's a really close two teams and the next four games should be even tighter."

Coulter-Nile was the standout for Australia in the loss, contributing with both bat and ball.

After making a valuable 28 from 27 balls that gave his side something to bowl at, the right-armer collected 2-46 from 10 overs, including the wicket of swashbuckling opener Shikhar Dhawan with his first delivery.

The 31-year-old battled bouts of vertigo in the BBL but has been the form bowler for Australia on tour so far.

In the first T20 in Vizag, the right-armer collected player-of-the-match honours for his 3-26 and backed it up with 1-33 in a high-scoring match in Bengaluru. 

With Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood missing this tour due to injury, Coulter-Nile is now one of the more experienced bowlers in the squad and was candid when assessing his own form at the end of the match.

"It's strange, sometimes you feel like you bowl really well and take no wickets and other times you feel like the ball is coming out really poorly and you take 2-40 or whatever I did today," he said. 

"I'm getting better. I came in with scratchy form off the BBL so I'm getting better definitely. 

"Hopefully I can hit my areas better next game for longer, consistently and the ball will start will feeling a bit better out of the hand."

Qantas Tour of India

First T20: Australia won by three wickets

Second T20: Australia won by seven wickets

First ODI: India won by six wickets

Second ODI: March 5, Nagpur

Third ODI: March 8, Ranchi

Fourth ODI: March 10, Mohali

Fifth ODI: March 13, Delhi