Champion Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was nowhere to be seen when the team arrived at Tullamarine.

Three versions quickly emerged.

The first came from an official who said it was "none of your business".

The second from a touring journalist who said Tendulkar didn't travel with the team on the flight from Canberra.

Media manager GS Walia, talking after the team arrived at its city hotel, said "everybody is in their rooms".

When told that Tendulkar was not seen at the airport on arrival, we suddenly lost the phone connection.