In a shocking result, India’s cricket team endured a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand in the recent three-match Test series played at home. The Indian players appeared unprepared against the visiting Kiwi side, struggling to match New Zealand’s pace and spin attacks. While Indian spinners helped their team by restricting Kiwis at small totals, the India’s batters found it difficult to counter New Zealand’s spinners and in the third test match they weren’t even able to chase the target of 147 and lost the match by 25 runs.
The subpar performances by several senior players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin, have ignited questions about their preparedness and future role in India’s Test setup. Many cricket enthusiasts and former players expressed disappointment over these players’ decision to skip the Duleep Trophy 2024, a crucial domestic tournament that could have provided essential match practice before the packed Test season.
Reports reveal that the selection committee had recommended that all top players participate in at least one Duleep Trophy match to gain valuable match practice. Initially, several senior players, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, had agreed to play. However, they later opted out, reportedly citing a “lack of motivation”. Their absence from the tournament meant they entered the Test series against New Zealand without recent red-ball experience, which may have contributed to their underwhelming performance.
“When Sharma, Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah chose not to participate, the selectors decided to allow Ravindra Jadeja, who had agreed to play, to continue in the Duleep Trophy,” an insider report detailed.
Do you think not playing Duleep Trophy was a wrong decision on the part of seniors?
