Blow to Australia! Maxwell ruled out of 1st T20 against India

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was on 24 January ruled out of the first Twenty20 International against India on 26 January after sustaining a hamstring injury which forced him to fly back home to Melbourne.

Maxwell, who was rested from fifth and final one-dayer against Mahendra singh Dhoni's men, is expected to be available for the second T20 in Melbourne on 29 January.

"He has still got a little slight hamstring niggle so....he will spend a few days in Melbourne at home and join the squad when we get there in a couple of days," acting coach Michael Di Venuto said.

Maxwell made 169 runs in the four matches that he played in the just-concluded series averaging 56.33.

Di Venuto is doing the interim coaching duties as Darren Lehmann had to be hospitalised after being diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis for the second time in his life.

In Maxwell's absence, Travis Head could make his international debut for the side on Tuesday.

Di Venuto said the upcoming series against India could be considered selection trial for the World T20 in March-April.

"Obviously there is a big carrot at the end of this with the World Cup team being picked, and you can only pick 15 people so we want to give people opportunities to see what they can do," he said.

-PTI