Before the home Test series, the selection committee told top Indian players to participate in the Duleep Trophy to have a match practice, as per a report in Indian Express. However, the top players declined citing a lack of motivation.
Indian selectors wanted India's senior players to play Duleep Trophy but they denied
This decision has been criticized by experts, who believe it contributed to India's 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand. The lack of adequate match practice appears to have hindered the team's performance.
“They should have had some practice, definitely. It’s a long gap. I know we beat Bangladesh and therefore, it looked as if it was going to be a cakewalk against New Zealand. But New Zealand, obviously, had a better attack, with cricketers who have played in India and in the IPL, who have a sense of what Indian pitches do,” batting legend Sunil Gavaskar told The Indian Express.
Indian batters left exposed after humiliating series sweep against New Zealand
The recent home Test series against New Zealand exposed the limitations of several senior Indian cricketers. They struggled to adapt to home conditions and negotiate spin, which was unexpected from players of their experience.
Even captain Rohit Sharma and veteran batsman Virat Kohli had a disappointing series. Kohli managed 192 runs in his last 10 innings, while Sharma scored only 133. Both players have been relatively inactive in domestic cricket, with Sharma's last Ranji Trophy appearance in 2015 and Kohli's in 2012.
Following India's T20 World Cup victory in June, the selection committee planned for top players to participate in the Duleep Trophy to prepare for the upcoming Test series. This domestic tournament, held in Bengaluru and Anantapur from September 5th to 22nd, was intended to provide players with valuable match practice.
As per the sources privy to the development, initially, key players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli agreed to participate. However, some of these players later withdrew their names, leaving them underprepared for the Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. This lack of recent red-ball cricket may have contributed to their subsequent struggles.
When key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah withdrew from the Duleep Trophy, the selection committee decided to release Ravindra Jadeja, who had initially agreed to participate.
In contrast, players like Shubman Gill, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Washington Sundar did participate in the Duleep Trophy. Most of these players had notable performances in the subsequent Test series.
New Zealand scripted history by defeating India in a 3-0 Test series sweep, marking their first-ever series victory in India and breaking India's 12-year unbeaten home Test run. This was a monumental achievement, as no team had previously managed to whitewash India in a three-match Test series on Indian soil.
India started the third Test promisingly, posting 263 runs in the first innings after bowling New Zealand out for 235. In the second innings, India's spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin combined to take eight wickets, reducing New Zealand to 174 runs. However, India's hopes of a comeback were dashed as they were set a modest target of 147 runs. Despite a valiant effort from Rishabh Pant, who scored a quickfire 64 runs, India faltered and were bowled out for 121 runs, handing New Zealand a historic series victory.
