India produced another awful batting display as they went down by 65 runs in the rain-affected opening match of the tri-series against Australia in Melbourne.

Half-centuries from debutant Matthew Wade and David Hussey pushed Australia to 216 for five in their 32 overs, but the visitors never looked like chasing that score down after their top order once again failed to turn up.

India opted to field first under cloudy skies at the MCG and they looked like they were up for the fight early in the day, but then fell to pieces after a three-hour rain delay.

Vinay Kumar backed up the decision to bowl first as he reduced the hosts to 19 for two by removing the dangerous David Warner and Ricky Ponting.

The game changed completely after the rain break, though, as Wade and David and Michael Hussey took the attack to the visitors.

India thought they were in charge when Michael Clarke chipped Rohit Sharma to deep midwicket when on 10, but Michael Hussey had other ideas.

His brilliant running between the wicket and sublime touches put India's fielders under all sorts of pressure. It also gave Wade the necessary freedom to play his natural game. The left-handed opener went to his maiden half-ton off 55 balls, but he couldn't finish the job as he was bowled by Rahul Sharma for 67.

The Hussey brothers kept India on the back foot by hustling and bustling between the wickets. Michael fell five runs short of his half-century, but David kept going and a couple of lofty shots in the final few overs saw him finish with 61 from 30 balls.

All eyes were once again on Sachin Tendulkar after he was brought into the side in place of Virender Sehwag, but it was another disappointing game for the Little Master as he hit Mitchell Starc to Ponting at backward point.

Starc also picked up the wicket of Gambhir after the left-hander meekly nicked to wicketkeeper Wade.

Virat Kohli (31) and Rohit Sharma (21) gave India hope with a 51-run stand, but they departed in the space of two balls. The former steered Clint McKay to Ponting at backward point and Rohit was caught behind.

Suresh Raina's problems against the short ball continued as he became Dan Christian's first victim at ODI cricket when he spliced one to mid-on. Christian too was making his debut.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (29) and Ravindra Jadeja (19) looked to push things on, but they couldn't find the boundaries and it wasn't too long before both found themselves back in the hut.

McKay finished the game off and collected figures of four for 20 when Praveen Kumar holed out to Ryan Harris at long-on.

The big win also helped Australia to pick up a bonus point in the series opener.