Certain aspects may be implemented in a method for wireless communication. The method generally includes determining a counter downlink assignment index (cDAI) to be included in each of a plurality of downlink control information (DCI), each of a first subset of the plurality of DCI being on a control channel, and each of a second subset of the plurality of DCI being on a data channel, each of the first subset of the plurality of DCI scheduling one of the data channels, and wherein each of the control channels and the data channels is on a cell of a plurality of cells, the determination of the cDAIs being based on order of the cell, with respect to the plurality of cells, on which each of the cDAIs is to be transmitted; generating and outputting for transmission the control channels and data channels in accordance with the determination.