The Indian selectors wanted the big players to participate in the Duleep Trophy before the start of the home Test season. However, the senior India cricketers denied the request and skipped the start of the red-ball domestic season due to ‘lack of motivation’.
The likes of captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah pulled out of the four-team event after initially responding positively. This report (by Indian Express) came to light after India’s 0-3 drubbing at home against New Zealand.
India’s last Test match was back in March when they faced England. Since then, they played a lot of T20 cricket with the IPL and the T20 World Cup. In August, they travelled to Sri Lanka for three T20Is and as many ODIs as well. Hence, the general consensus was that playing the Duleep Trophy would provide some vital game time in red-ball cricket.
“The selection committee planned for all top players to be available for the Duleep Trophy in order to provide them with some match practice before the red-ball season. Rohit and Kohli, along with other key players, gave their consent initially. However, some of the top players later decided to withdraw their names and went into the two Tests against Bangladesh (in September) and the three against New Zealand without much recent red-ball cricket under their belt,” a report on the Indian Express stated.
While India thrashed Bangladesh 2-0, they crumbled poorly against a spirited New Zealand side that created history. It was their first-ever Test series win in India and this was also the first time a team whitewashed India in India in a three-match Test series.
Rohit and Kohli were severely out of form. The Indian skipper got just 91 runs in six innings with a highest of 52. He constantly got out trying to force the pace and attack. Meanwhile, Kohli’s decline against spin was on display as he was dismissed by spinners four out of the six times. He scored 93 runs with a best of 70 which came in the second innings in Bangalore.
Ashwin had an underwhelming series as well. He picked up just nine wickets in six outings with his best (3/63) coming in the second innings of the third Test in Mumbai. Jasprit Bumrah surprisingly looked off-colour as well, finishing the series with three wickets in two games.
Sunil Gavaskar criticizes senior India players
Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at the senior players and admitted that they should’ve had some practice. Bangladesh looked clueless against India but New Zealand with a better attack outclassed Rohit Sharma and co.
“They should have had some practice, definitely. It’s a long gap. I know we beat Bangladesh. 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,” Sunil Gavaskar was quoted saying to the Indian Express.
India now face an uphill task of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. They need to win four out of their remaining five Tests in order to qualify. All of those Tests will be in Australia.
