Indian cricket star raises eyebrows with mysterious decision – as rumours of unrest in the tourists’ dressing room swirl

Rohit Sharma mysteriously withdrew from his speech at an official meeting with the Australian Prime Minister on New Year’s Day.

It comes amid widespread speculation that there is unrest in the Indian team’s dressing room, just days away from their final Test against Australia in Sydney.

The home side took a 2-1 series lead on day five of the Boxing Day Test by beating India to seal a 184-run win.

Tensions have been bubbling during the Border-Gavaskar series, with Virat Kohli at the center of two controversial moments last week.

The ex-India captain had argued with reporters outside a Melbourne airport upon arrival in Victoria before Kohli was fined 20 percent of his match fee for a shoulder bump against Sam Konstas.

Meanwhile, Australia are also being branded ‘cheaters’ by some India fans after a controversial third umpiring review on Sunday that saw Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed despite Snicko showing no spike when a delivery appeared to bounce over his glove.

The Indian cricket team was invited to meet Australian politician Kirribilli House in Sydney

Australia was also present at the event, with Pat Cummins and Sharma reportedly set to give a speech at the meeting

On Wednesday, Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon invited both teams as guests of honor to a New Year’s Day event at Kirribilli House overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Both teams were present and posed for pictures together, while Kohli also stopped for a moment with Konstas’ brothers.

The Daily Telegraph states that Sharma was supposed to speak at the event, but in a late twist, Gautam Gambhir stepped up to deliver a speech.

Sharma was still there to manage his players and had presented the Australian Prime Minister with a gift.

The India captain has endured a tough series, with some calling for him to be dropped.

He has reached double figures just once during the series, scoring a total of 31 runs in five innings.

But according to The Indian Expressa division is beginning to emerge in the Indian dressing room as criticism of their indifferent form mounts.

Gambhir had issued a stern spray to his side after they lost seven wickets in 20.4 overs on Monday.

According to the newspaper, he told his players: “I’ve had enough.”

Questions have been raised that a rift could emerge in the Indian dressing room, with Virat Kohli (centre) also struggling for form

Sharma has endured a poor run so far, scoring 31 runs in five innings

Australia took a 2–1 lead in the series after registering a 184-run win against India

Questions are beginning to arise over Sharma’s captaincy and his place in the team

They add that his speech was in reference to players trying to do their own thing instead of playing for the team depending on the situation.

Sources close to the team have said that the atmosphere in the dressing room was not ideal and there was some tension in the camp.

Moreover, Ravichandran Ashwin’s surprise decision in the middle of the series raised a few eyebrows, with players rarely hanging up their bat midway through such an important fixture.

Questions have also been asked about Kohli’s form, with the batsman hitting a century in Perth but failing to back it up with another big score.

With some, including Fox Cricket commentator Mark Waugh, claiming he and Sharma should now step aside to allow younger players through, one big Australian believes the Indian captain should leave on his own terms.

‘The figures are interesting. It happens to multiple players,” Michael Clarke told ESPN.

‘For some people, captaincy helps; not for others. I definitely feel he will play in Sydney.

‘They won’t drop him. I think Rohit has earned the right to run on his own terms, and he is the captain, and when you are in the lead, you get a bit of leeway.

‘The numbers are not great. I’m not sure Sydney will be his last. I’m not sure what he thinks about Test cricket, and I’m not sure how he feels about being a captain either,” he said.