Australian batters have looked far from being comfortable against the Indian spinners in the first two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests.

India’s seasoned spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin have taken 31 of Australia’s 40 wickets as the visitors’ four innings have folded for 177, 91, 263 and 113 in Nagpur and Delhi.

During the second Test in Delhi, where Australia suffered a six-wicket defeat, Travis Head’s performance was one of the very few positives for the tourists.

Head opted for a counter-attacking approach in the second innings, scoring 43 off 46 balls while opening the innings after David Warner subbed out with concussion.

Ahead of the third Test, Head has backed himself to keep being aggressive against the Indian spinners. With Warner back home due to an elbow fracture, the southpaw will open alongside Usman Khawaja in Indore.

Travis Head was left out of the playing XI for the opening Test in Nagpur.

“It was something that I didn't expect coming here,” Head said during a media interaction when asked about his omission from the Nagpur Test.

“The conversations were robust. Everyone has different opinions. I respect the coaching staff and selectors and I have a really strong relationship with them. I think that's what made the conversations the way they went, because there's respect that goes both ways and we were able to voice our opinions.

“And I woke up the next morning and I'm still on tour playing for Australia, I still get to do what I love to do. I'd love to be competing and playing but there's another way I can support the guys the best I could and prepare the best way I could for another opportunity. I still feel like I'm in a great space. It's just one week that didn't go my way.”

Head said he gained a lot of confidence after scoring 43 in the second innings at Kotla.

“They're extremely skilful bowlers, but I was really pleased with the way I was going forward and back and watching length and a few of the things I'd worked on. It was a small sample piece but over here small sample pieces can be a little bit of gold."

Having lost the first two Tests, bouncing back will be a massive challenge for the Australians and Head acknowledged that.

"I think the communication and the relationships that we've built is why this team has been so strong and why this team has stayed together for a period of time. We're always gonna have moments that aren't the greatest or isn't the best we want it. Those things happen. We accept them but we've also got to find a way to get better at it, to try and limit them as much as we possibly can because no one wants them.

“But it's a challenge for us over the next couple of weeks, when we find ourselves in moments, how can we draw it back. When it's a full stadium and there's noise going and wickets falling, how we can draw that back.”

Meanwhile, skipper Pat Cummins will miss the third Test against India as he has decided to stay back in Sydney with his ailing mother.

In his absence, vice-captain Steve Smith will lead the Australian side in the penultimate Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“We're a close group, so a lot of the guys have reached out to him,” Head said.

“He's got a lot of close friends here. The limited conversations that we've all had probably with him, it's always a hard moment.

“We fully expect him to be at home. Life's a bigger thing than cricket. It's more important for him to be at home than be here. We truck on and find ways as a team to support him and to get on with the job,” he concluded.

(With PTI Inputs)