But the return of another left-arm spearhead to the Australian side is set to overshadow the Canberra junior's rise, with Mitchell Starc to join Behrendorff in the bowling line-up at the SCG on Sunday.

Starc has been added to the Australian squad for the series decider against India after Billy Stanlake tripped over a boundary rope and sprained his ankle on Friday night.

Starc will add experience to the bowling line-up, but he hasn't played a T20 international in almost two years despite being regarded as one of the best death bowlers in the world.

He was being rested to get a headstart on preparations for the Test series against India, which starts in Adelaide on December 6.

Behrendorff is doing the opposite, putting his Test ambitions and Sheffield Shield career on hold to focus on the shorter 50-over and T20 formats after being dogged by injury.

The 28-year-old dominated in the Pirme Minister's XI last month and took 1-43 off four overs in the opening T20 against India. Now hopes he can perform well enough to earn a regular spot for the one-day World Cup in England next year and the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020.

"It's a lot of experience [for me now], coming up against one of the best sides in the world and understanding a bit more about my game, and how I need continue to get better to stay at this level and succeed," Behrendorff said.

"Short format cricket is the answer [for my body] at the moment, so T20 and one-day cricket. Test cricket and four-day cricket for the Shield stuff has been put on hold until after the Big Bash.

Asked if World Cup selection was his goal, he said: "A massive goal. I think anyone playing for Australia at the moment has that goal in mind, so that's in the back of my head and really working towards that."

Australia have never beaten India, winners of the inaugural T20 World Cup and widely regarded as masters of the shortest format since the advent of the Indian Premier League, in a T20 series.

"It's nice [to have Starc back]. He's obviously got so much experience in limited-overs games," said captain Aaron Finch.

"We've seen how dominant he can be when he gets it right. Winning the series is obviously huge and means a lot to us."

The opening two games were both affected by wet weather but Finch's side holds a 1-0 lead thanks to its four-run win in Brisbane.

Batting problems have been a near-constant hassle for Australia throughout this year in every format. There was more of the same at the MCG, where play was abandoned after the hosts reached 7-132 in 19 overs.

Finch was dismissed for a golden duck and the top order crumbled as Australia slipped to 5-62 before Nathan Coulter-Nile and Ben McDermott landed some counter-punches.

Finch has scored 96 runs from his past 10 innings for Australia, a slump that includes seven T20s.

"Something's going wrong," Finch said. "T20 is a game where if you take a risk early and get out a couple of times it can build up. But it's still a game where you're looking to take them on at the start.

"I've been in this position before and it's not alarming ... I played reasonably well in Brisbane and got off to a decent start, just didn't kick on.

"In this format you're one shot away from everything just clicking back into gear."

Finch's opening partner D'Arcy Short, who has scored a combined 37 runs from his past six T20 digs for Australia, is also searching for form.