India's star-studded batting line-up may have squandered the advantage earned by their bowlers but Sachin Tendulkar [Images] insisted the match is far from over and promised a fightback against Australia.

Indian bowlers did a smart job by bowling out the hosts for 343 in their first essay but the batsmen let them down as the visitors collapsed for 196, handing the hosts a first innings lead of 147 runs.

• Lee, Clark put Australia in command |  Images

Tendulkar, however, stressed that India are still in the match.

"We were in a good position yesterday. Today it's not the same for us. But it's part and parcel of the game. We'll continue to fight [in this Test]," said the batsman.

"It's possible to chase 400 runs on this wicket. The match isn't over yet. We would try to take 10 wickets as early as possible. We would look to break it down session to session," he said.

India had a tardy start with Rahul Dravid [Images] (5) partnering Wasim Jaffer [Images] (4), looking overcautious during his 66-ball struggle in the middle as Australia seized the momentum.

Tendulkar, however, sprang to the defence of his team-mate and dismissed suggestions that Dravid's laboured knock had put the Indians on the back foot.

"After just one innings, I don't think we should be passing judgements. Rahul has done well at all numbers, so perhaps the right time to judge would be at the end of the series," Tendulkar said.

"There are no complaints against the openers. Yes, the strike wasn't rotated enough for five or six overs but it's not the first time that has happened in Test cricket.

"You are not always going to strike the ball the way you want. Sometimes the balls are also not in the areas to be put away for runs. You just have to fight it out and it was one of those days," he argued.

Tendulkar was the top scorer for India with his classy 62 and the batsman said he walked out with a positive intent.

"I realised I was spotting the line pretty early so I decided to go for my strokes. I wasn't thinking of what had happened earlier or what was going to happen next. I was trying to live in the present."

The Mumbaikar believes he got out at the wrong time, only when a stand with Sourav Ganguly [Images] appeared to have laid the platform for recovery.

"That partnership we should have converted into a big one. It would have made a huge difference to the batting order.

"I got out because the ball came slower than I had expected," he said.