Srinagar: In a landmark moment for Jammu & Kashmir cricket, Auqib Nabi has been named in India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, replacing injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that Bumrah has been ruled out of the series as he has not fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. The Men’s Selection Committee has drafted in Nabi as his replacement, handing the 29-year-old Baramulla pacer his maiden call-up to the senior Indian team.
Nabi’s selection is the reward for an extraordinary run in domestic cricket. Over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, he has claimed 104 wickets, including an exceptional 60 wickets during the 2025-26 season, playing a decisive role in guiding Jammu & Kashmir to its maiden Ranji Trophy title. His relentless consistency with the ball made him one of the most feared fast bowlers in the domestic circuit.
Having narrowly missed selection for the previous national assignment despite topping the domestic bowling charts, Nabi continued to impress selectors. He was recently part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka, where he picked up six wickets in two first-class matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle, further strengthening his case for national selection.
For many followers of Indian domestic cricket, Nabi’s inclusion has been long overdue. The right-arm seamer has been knocking on the doors of the national team for the past three seasons with consistent match-winning performances. His ability to deliver breakthroughs in crucial moments and lead J&K’s pace attack was instrumental in the team’s historic Ranji Trophy-winning campaign, with several victories largely built around his exceptional bowling.
With this selection, Auqib Nabi becomes only the third cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir to earn a place in the Indian national team after Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik, marking another historic chapter for cricket in the Union Territory.
India’s Updated Test Squad for Sri Lanka
Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan* (subject to fitness clearance), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi.
Nabi’s call-up is not just a personal milestone but also a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir cricket, reflecting the growing strength of the region’s talent on the national stage. All eyes will now be on the Baramulla speedster as he prepares to don the Indian jersey for the first time.
