Mumbai: Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has received an early call-up to the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, with the BCCI Selection Committee adding him to the squad for the first three matches.
Nabi was initially named in India’s squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs but has now been brought into the squad from the beginning of the five-match series, marking another significant step in the fast-rising career of the Jammu and Kashmir speedster.
The selection is a major recognition of Nabi’s progress in Indian domestic cricket and his growing stature as one of the promising pace-bowling talents emerging from Jammu and Kashmir.
From J&K to Team India: Auqib Nabi’s Rise Continues
The latest call-up comes after Nabi impressed during the India A tour of New Zealand. The right-arm pacer was part of the India A squad for the unofficial Test series and featured in the opening four-day match against New Zealand A at Lincoln, where he claimed six wickets across two innings.
His performance in New Zealand has further strengthened his case for a longer run in India’s international setup. The conditions offered an opportunity to demonstrate his ability to extract movement and trouble batters with the new ball.
Nabi’s rise has been particularly impressive following his outstanding domestic season with Jammu and Kashmir. He played a crucial role in J&K’s historic maiden Ranji Trophy title triumph in the 2025-26 season, finishing the competition with 60 wickets. His consistent performances established him as one of the most effective fast bowlers in domestic cricket.
His domestic success eventually earned him a place in India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series, where he made his international debut in Guwahati on September 30.
Although his first ODI outing was challenging, with Nabi conceding 84 runs in 8.5 overs, his selection for the New Zealand series underlines the selectors’ continued interest in his potential.
He has so far played one ODI for India and will now have an opportunity to add to that tally during the New Zealand tour.
Prasidh Krishna’s Injury Opens Door
Nabi’s inclusion in the squad for the first three ODIs follows Prasidh Krishna’s withdrawal from the series. The Indian pacer was ruled out after failing to recover sufficiently from a hamstring injury and will need additional time to regain the workload required for competitive cricket.
The five-match ODI series against New Zealand begins on November 4 in Auckland, with subsequent matches scheduled in Wellington, Hamilton and Mount Maunganui.
For Nabi, the opportunity represents another important milestone in a journey that has taken him from domestic cricket in Jammu and Kashmir to the Indian dressing room.
Having already made his international debut, the focus will now be on converting his latest opportunity into consistent performances at the highest level.
For Jammu and Kashmir cricket, his rise is another significant moment, with a homegrown fast bowler continuing to make his presence felt on the national stage.
