Australia will need to haul in a target of 275 to extend their 25-match ODI winning streak after struggling to contain India opener Smriti Mandhana in Mackay.
Mandhana's brisk 86, followed by a 53-run stand between Pooja Vastrakar and Jhulan Goswami that was only broken with the final ball of the innings, helped the tourists reach 7-274 in the second one-dayer.
Australia's best chase in their current world-record run of ODI wins, which dates back to 2018, came when they eased to a four-wicket victory while reeling in a target of 253 against New Zealand in 2020.
Ellyse Perry recorded figures of 0-32 from five overs, failing to keep the runs down at both the start and end of India's innings, while legspinner Georgia Wareham didn't bowl a single over because of a quad injury.
India were well placed to post an even more intimidating total, having rocketed to 0-55 in eight overs before Mandhana looked to kick on after steering her side to 3-171 after 32 overs.
Tahlia McGrath's ensuing dismissal of Mandhana, who steered a ball to Beth Mooney at point while threatening to reach a run-a-ball hundred, briefly shifted momentum.
McGrath, one of several bowlers asked to step up in a depleted attack missing spearhead Megan Schutt and star spinner Jess Jonassen, removed Richa Ghosh (44) and Deepti Sharma (23) in the same spell.
India slipped to 6-221 after Sharma's exit started the 43rd over, ensuring thoughts of a 300-plus total needed to be balanced with batting out their allotted overs.
But Vastrakar (29) and Goswami (28no) kept the scoreboard ticking over in impressive fashion.
Discounting her own run out after a terrible mix-up between the wickets, there was a lot for India captain Mithali Raj to like about a much-improved batting display compared to Tuesday's lopsided loss.
Sophie Molineux (2-28 from eight overs) and Nicola Carey (0-26 from eight overs), recalled after recovering from an abdominal strain, were comfortably Australia's most economical bowlers.
