Rahul Dravid [Images] praised Harbhajan Singh [Images] and Zaheer Khan [Images] for their dogged display with the bat that helped India fight back on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia [Images] in Bangalore on Saturday.

Harbhajan smashed 54, his third half-century in as many matches against Australia, adding 80 runs for the eighth wicket with Zaheer Khan, who was not out on 35, as India amassed 313 for 8 in the first innings in reply to Australia's 430.

• Scorecard | Images

"It's always fun to watch Harbhajan bat. I think they batted sensibly and batted cautiously against spinners early on and once the faster bowlers returned and the ball came on to the bat they played their shots. They kept the runs coming and that was important at that stage. It was a critical partnership for us to reach in the position where we are now," Dravid said.

Statistical highlights - Day 3

He believes that toss does play a role on Indian pitches, especially when they are slow and low.

"Yeah, I think it happens a little bit in India, because the wickets are on the slower and lower side; so the team batting first will have that slight advantage. But I think that is not entirely the case, because they (Aussies) played really well and they have a couple of hundreds and got a good total on the board, helping to put pressure on us."

The Karnataka batsman also seemed a bit disappointed with the top order's showing.

"We could have batted a little better today and that could have helped us to force our way a little better on the fourth day," he commented.

Dravid steadied the Indian innings after Mitchell Johnson's three-wicket burst had them reeling at 106 for 4 at one stage. The former India captain played a solid knock of 51 before he was adjudged leg before wicket to Shane Watson.

 He believes that at the moment Australia have the upperhand, but if India's remaining two wickets can add a few runs it would make the match interesting.

 "We still need to be positive and still need to believe. Anything can happen in this wicket, yes we have to remain positive. The 80-odd run partnership between Zaheer and Bhajji has given us some hope. If we get some runs tomorrow and then get some early wickets, you never know what will happen. Obviously, we are a little behind them at this stage of the game, but not so far that we cannot fight back. I think it's going to be two interesting days of cricket from hereon," Dravid added.

 The right-hander believes that Harbhajan and Anil Kumble [Images] will prove a handful to the Aussie batsmen in their second innings on a pitch getting increasing slower and lower.

"We have two top-end fast bowlers and two world class spinners. In India, and on these kinds of wickets, such attacks have won us matches in the past. Yeah, some times it (having a seamer less) can pull us a little bit back as it can be an advantage if bowling in the third or fourth innings," he said.

 He rued not getting to the three-figure mark, something he has not achieved at this venue where he learnt his cricket.

"It could have been nice to score a hundred here. I have grown up here and played a lot of Ranji matches and got some hundreds here. But I have not had that kind of success here in Test cricket. But that's the way it goes," he said.

"I am pretty happy with the way I concentrated and played today. Obviously, I would have liked to carry on a bit more. Yes, as you said, I will take this for a start to the series and hope to build on from here on in the coming weeks of the series."

Dravid also applauded Johnson's bowling, saying the key to his success was that he made the Indian batsmen play a lot of deliveries.

"He bowled really well and got it reversed -- sometimes when you bowl well you might not get wickets -- but he made us play a lot of ball. His first spell in the morning was really good and then came back in the afternoon and bowled with some good pace."

He also sought to downplay the spat between Zaheer and Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin just before the rain break.

"Zaheer never told me anything and I never asked him anything. It's a part and parcel of the international game and I don't think there was anything serious and if anything serious he would have mentioned it. He didn't mention anything," Dravid said.