Australia were at a commanding 262 for two and looking to build a massive first innings on Friday's second day, weather permitting.

"It was a tough day, no doubt about it, we didn't bowl as well as we should have and we were disappointed at the end of the day," Dravid told a press conference after play.

"We have to keep fighting and come back and do better tomorrow."

Dravid defended his skipper's decision to send Australia into bat on a moist grassed pitch under leaden skies.

"It was hard conditions, the day was going to be drizzly, an on-off day, so we were trying to make best use of the conditions, but it didn't work out well for us and they batted through the first session and played well later on," he said.

"There was something there in the pitch, but not as much as we would have liked."

Dravid said credit was due to the Australian batsmen rather than criticising his bowlers.

"I think our guys tried very hard, maybe they could have put the ball in better areas, but it's probably better to give credit to the Australian batsmen, I thought they batted better, rather than us bowling poorly and they put us the back foot a little bit."

Dravid said there was no doubt Australia won the opening day of the series, but he urged his teammates to come back on Friday and battle hard to wrest back the initiative.

"There's no doubt Australia won the first day, but we have to come back tomorrow and keep fighting.

"Losing the first day doesn't mean we will lose the series and we are definitely on the back foot, but I think we can come back tomorrow and bowl better and keep fighting."

India have a major mental hurdle to overcome in this series, having last won in Australia in 1981 and having gained a reputation as world cricket's poorest travellers.