Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the first Twenty20 International against India in Adelaide on Tuesday after sustaining a hamstring injury which forced him to fly back home to Melbourne.

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

"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 on Sunday.

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

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. 

Image: Glenn Maxwell of Australia bowls

Photograph: Francois Nel/Getty Images