Steve Smith rues Australia's drops against India

Australia captain Steve Smith pointed to a below-par fielding display as India were able to escape the ignominy of a 5-0 one-day international series whitewash thanks to Saturday's six-wicket success.

The world champions came into the clash at the SCG seeking a clean sweep and looked in a strong position to do so after racking up 330-7 thanks to centuries from David Warner and Mitchell Marsh.

But after Australia had dropped Rohit Sharma, who went on to make 99, and captain MS Dhoni, who added a crucial 34, India got over the line with two balls to spare thanks to Manish Pandey's excellent unbeaten 104.

Shikhar Dhawan's 78 was also a key factor as he and Sharma put on 123 for the opening wicket and Smith was left to rue those missed chances in the field.

"We didn't score too many runs in the last two overs and then dropped our chances," he said.

"I think both factors cost us. But fielding cost us quite a lot. We dropped a couple of regulation chances and when you drop players like that they are going to come back and bite you.

"The plan was to not give anything away to MS Dhoni. The first plan was to get him out, but we failed to take the chance that we got.

"We were able to put pressure on him when he first came to the crease, get a few dots on him as we were trying to take a wicket. He is a dangerous player and finds a boundary at the right time, and for him to hit a six in the last over, that got them home I guess."

Smith also had words of praise for Pandey, whose century was his first in ODIs.

"I have heard a lot about Manish Pandey who is also the first Indian to get a hundred in the IPL. That's a special feat and I did play with him a little bit for Pune Warriors," he added.

"He is a quality young player and hits the ball extremely crisply. He has a nice technique and he really stepped up tonight. I thought it was a magnificent innings, played under extreme pressure to take his side home."