Australia vs India: Reports of unrest after Rohit Sharma pulls out of Anthony Albanese’s New Year’s Day event

Reports of unrest in the Indian dressing room have overshadowed a New Year’s Day event at Kirribilli House, with under-siege captain Rohit Sharma making a mysterious late withdrawal.

Under-siege Indian captain Rohit Sharma mysteriously withdrew from speaking at the Prime Minister’s official function at Kirribilli House amid reports of unrest in the Indian dressing room.

Relations have been tense between the Australian and Indian teams at times during this summer, but they came together on the lawns overlooking the Sydney Harbour as guests of Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon on New Year’s evening – with even Sam Konstas and his MCG sparring partner Virat Kohli posing for a lighthearted selfie.

But behind the curtains there are suggestions that Rohit’s leadership of the Indian team is being undermined, amid reports that coach Gautam Gambhir gave his players a spray following their dramatic Boxing Day loss at the MCG.

It’s understood Rohit was due to give an address in response to counterpart Pat Cummins and the Prime Minister and other dignitaries on Wednesday evening, but organisers were told just hours before the function that it would be the coach Gambhir who would be speaking instead.

India's Rohit Sharma was a surprise late withdrawal from speaking at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s official function at Kirribilli House. Picture: AFP

Rohit was still leading his teammates at the function and posed for a photo with the PM and also presented him with a gift of gratitude alongside Cummins.

Gambhir and Rohit were spotted chatting calmly on the lawns of the Prime Minister’s residence and there is no suggestion of any issue between captain and coach.

However, Rohit’s mysterious silence at the event comes as pressure comes over the out of form captain’s place in the team.

Indian reports, including from the reliable Indian Express, as well as Cricket et al in Australia have reported that Gambhir read Indian players the riot act to the failing batsmen after some reckless shorts on the final day attempting to save the game.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s bizarre decision to retire in the middle of the series has also raised eyebrows, particularly given his skills could have been crucial in this final Test at the spinning SCG.

It is extremely unusual for players to retire mid-series.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s bizarre decision to retire mid-series has raised eyebrows. Picture: Getty Images

The Indian Express has reported that there is disquiet over Rohit’s leadership and has claimed there are other players within the dressing rooms with ambitions of captaining the team.

Experts including Fox Cricket commentator Mark Waugh have questioned whether Rohit should be dropped from the fifth Test despite being captain.

India must win the final Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will shut fans out of their practice session on Thursday at the SCG.

The Indian players mostly kept to themselves at the function at Kirribilli House, although there was a nice exchange between superstar Kohli and Australian champion batsmen Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and young Konstas.

Kohli was Konstas’ boyhood hero and it was one of the eye-catching moments of Boxing Day when the King appeared to deliberately collide with the 19-year-old Australian in a bid to throw him off his game.

Prime Minister Albanese jokingly took credit in his speech for Konstas fairytale Test debut.

“Of course, he got his break in the Prime Minister’s XI,” Albanese said, tongue firmly in cheek.

“I’m claiming some of the credit, which is about my only contribution to national cricket.”