Source The Hindu
NEW DELHI — Jammu and Kashmir seam-bowling all-rounder Auqib Nabi has earned his maiden call-up to the Indian senior national team after being named as a replacement for injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the decision on Monday, ruling Bumrah out as he continues to recover from a persistent left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. Bumrah was initially included in the main squad subject to fitness clearance, but sports science experts at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru advised against rushing him back ahead of a grueling international schedule.
Rewarding Domestic Consistency
Nabi’s inclusion marks a landmark moment in his career and for Jammu & Kashmir cricket. The 29-year-old right-arm seamer from Baramulla has been the standout performer in India’s domestic circuit over the past two seasons, picking up a total of 104 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.
His stellar 2025–26 Ranji Trophy campaign saw him finish as the highest wicket-taker with 60 wickets at an average of 12.65, earning him the Player of the Tournament award and guiding Jammu & Kashmir to their historic maiden title victory. Most recently, Nabi featured for the India A squad in Sri Lanka, taking six wickets across two four-day matches in Galle.
WTC Qualification Context
Bumrah’s absence comes as a significant blow to India’s fast-bowling unit as they aim to bolster their position in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Currently sitting fifth on the WTC table, India need a series sweep in Sri Lanka to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The two-match Test series is scheduled to begin on August 15 in Galle. Should Nabi feature in the playing eleven, he will become the first male cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to earn a Test cap for India.
Updated India Test Squad
Shubman Gill (Captain)
KL Rahul (Vice-Captain)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Sai Sudharsan
Dhruv Jurel (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Kuldeep Yadav
Manav Suthar
Mohammed Siraj
Prasidh Krishna
Gurnoor Brar
Devdutt Padikkal
Saransh Jain
Auqib Nabi
