AHEAD OF the home Test season, the selection committee wanted top Indian players to get some match practice in the Duleep Trophy, as preparation for the home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, but they refused to play the domestic tournament citing “lack of motivation”, The Indian Express has learnt. On Sunday, several experts felt that lack of adequate match practice was a key reason behind the 0-3 whitewash at home against the Kiwis. “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,” former India captain Sunil Gavaskar told The Indian Express on Sunday. “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,” he said. Most of the senior cricketers were far from their best, especially against New Zealand. They were found wanting in dealing with home conditions and negotiating the turning ball, …