India have beaten the Kookaburras 3-2 in Bendigo in the first of two hockey Tests.
India's Yousaf Affan scored a double in the 19th minute on Tuesday to put the Kookaburras on the back foot.
Australia started well with two penalty corner attempts within the first four minutes, but India's defence were alert and blocked both efforts.
Following a scoreless opening quarter, India upped their attack in the second, with forward Affan giving them the lead with a field goal at the 19th minute, only to double it with a second field goal seconds later.
India continued to press, leaving the Kookaburras struggling to get the ball down to their attacking circle.
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Coming back from halftime, in the 36th minute, a scramble in the Australian circle and some teamwork from Daniel Beale and Matt Willis put the Kookaburras on the board with a crafty field goal sneaking in past Akash Chikte.
With two minutes to go in the quarter, Trent Mitton scored the equaliser with a field goal, but Indian captain Raghunath Vokkaliga came through to score a penalty corner and reclaim the lead.
Kookaburras interim coach Paul Gaudoin said he wasn't satisfied at all with the performance.
"The performance corresponded to the result. We weren't switched on; we had a lot of opportunities in the first half; we just couldn't take them.
"They had four circle penetrations in the first half and we only had two. So really it just wasn't good enough - we weren't switched on and ready to play.
"Consistency at this level is what we're chasing and that's the challenge for a young group as well and we didn't hit the mark today. The boys know that now, and we need to make sure we're up for tomorrow."
The Kookaburras and India play the second and final match on Wednesday from 6.30pm.
