Australia will have to chase a score of 304 to win the third one-day international between the teams in Mohali.
India's innings got off to the worst start when they were reduced to 37-2 inside seven overs, but Virat Kohli (68) helped to steady the ship.
Mitchell Johnson's dismissals of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh in successive balls left the hosts reeling at 76-4.
However, captain MS Dhoni's 139 off 121 balls helped India to post a competitive total of 303-9, flanked by Ravichandran Ashwin's useful 28.
The series is level at 1-1 after India chased down a remarkable 360 to beat Australia by nine wickets in Jaipur, the second-highest successful chase in ODI history.