Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke might be about to confront a much tougher Indian side in the triangular one-day series to the one that was humiliated 4-0 in the Test series.

Australian Twenty20 skipper George Bailey noted that the tourists had a lot more spark when they won Friday night’s match at the MCG.

“There’s a different energy in this Indian side in the shorter format,” Bailey said.

After blasting 626 runs at 125.20 in Australia’s Test series whitewash, Clarke sat out the two Twenty20 games against India.

Now he will return to lead Australia in Sunday’s day-night match against India at the MCG.

This one-day series will also feature Sri Lanka, who lost to India last April in the World Cup final.

India were woeful in the Test series and also lost the opening Twenty20 match to Bailey’s men in Sydney on Wednesday night before the Friday night win.

Clarke expects a tough series, but is upbeat about his team’s form in the 50-over format.

“We’re the No.1 one-day team in the world so I’d like to think we are favourites, but in saying that we have to play at our best to beat both these teams,” Clarke said.

“They were both in the final of our most recent World Cup so hopefully, like I said throughout the Test series, I’m confident if we play our best cricket we can win this series.”

Indian batsman Suresh Raina said their morale had remained strong on this tour, despite their poor form through the Test series.

“Even when you are losing, you need to keep your process intact,” he said.

“The good thing was the bonding even in defeats was good in the team.

“There was a little frustration but we kept the intensity up and kept motivating each other – keep enjoying every moment.”

A feature of India’s Twenty20 win on Friday night was superb fielding that included four run-outs.

“The way they fielded last night is how you need to field in one-day cricket and Twenty20 cricket and Test cricket to have success,” Clarke said.

“I certainly wasn’t surprised by how they fielded – they are a very good outfit.”

Clarke also backed Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who was dropped in favour of Matthew Wade for the Twenty20 games and the first three matches of this one-day series.

“Hads just needs to get back to scoring runs and keeping well, continue to play the way he plays,” he said.

“There’s been a lot of talk about it, I don’t think Brad’s that bothered by it.

“He knows what he has to do, put numbers on the board, and I’m sure he will get another opportunity.”