Alex Hales scored 56 off 35 balls to help England set India a target of 158 to win the first Twenty20 international in Pune.
Hales ensured that his side recovered from the early dismissal of Michael Lumb to put on a 68-run partnership with Luke Wright off just 42 balls.
Wright fell for 34 off the bowling of Yuvraj Singh before Hales succumbed to the same fate as England reached three figures with eight overs left.
Yuvraj picked up his third wicket to dismiss Eoin Morgan as England searched for new impetus to set their hosts a competitive target.
Samit Patel and Jos Buttler kept the score ticking over to 120 with 20 balls remaining but India were content to keep their opponents to singles.
However, that forced the two England batsmen to act and both struck huge sixes to take the score to 138 before Patel holed out to Ajinkya Rahane for 24.
Tim Bresnan fell for a golden duck to see England reduced to 139-6 with eight balls remaining.
In the final over, Buttler produced a flick over the wicket-keeper's head for six runs before smashing the next delivery straight down the ground to finish the innings unbeaten on 33 as England recorded a total of 157-6.
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