Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi replaces Jasprit Bumrah in India’s Test squad for Sri Lanka series
Auqib Nabi, a pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, has been named as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah in India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Nabi’s inclusion marks his maiden call-up to the national Test side. The 29-year-old seamer was part of the India A squad that recently toured Sri Lanka, where he secured six wickets in two First Class matches.
Nabi’s journey to the national squad has been marked by his consistent performances in domestic cricket. He picked up 104 wickets over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons. In the 2025-26 edition, he claimed 60 wickets in ten matches, which ranks as the third-highest for an Indian pacer in that season. Across two Ranji Trophy seasons, Auqib has taken 13 five-wicket hauls in 18 matches, with seven of those coming in the second edition, matching the most by any pacer in a first-class season in India.
During his early career, Nabi faced challenges, including not owning his own bowling spikes for his first Under-19 trial in Jammu & Kashmir. He borrowed a pair from a friend for the trial and continued to use borrowed shoes for his entire first U-19 tournament. His cricketing education began with tennis-ball matches in Kashmir before he transitioned to leather-ball cricket. He also had to travel from Baramulla to Srinagar for practice on turf wickets.
Development as a Bowler
P. Krishnakumar, Jammu & Kashmir’s bowling coach, noted that when Nabi first joined the team for the Buchi Babu Trophy in Salem in 2023, he primarily bowled outswingers. Krishnakumar worked with Nabi to develop his inswing, which eventually became a significant weapon in his bowling arsenal. Nabi also added the scrambled seam delivery to his repertoire, making him a more versatile bowler.
Nabi’s coach highlighted that he possesses a strong wrist position, which is one of his key strengths. Krishnakumar also addressed some biomechanical issues, and the results of their work began to appear in the 2024-25 season. Nabi learned to use the ball effectively and to bowl consistently in different sessions of a match. He also focused on identifying batters’ weaknesses and improving his preparation. These efforts contributed to Jammu & Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy win in the last season.
Nabi himself has stated that a significant transformation for him has been a change in mindset. He shifted his focus from solely taking wickets to consistently bowling in good areas. He believes that whether the ball swings in or away, the primary goal is to hit the correct length. This approach has also influenced how he handles challenging bowling conditions, such as flat Indian pitches, by emphasizing strong basics.
Squad Additions and Series Schedule
Another uncapped player, all-rounder Saransh Jain, has also been included in the Test squad. Jain is a right-arm off-break bowler who bats left-handed. He has a notable first-class record, with 188 wickets and 2223 runs. In three of the last four Ranji Trophy seasons, Jain scored over 300 runs and took 25 wickets each season. His most recent season saw him accumulate 518 runs at an average of 57.55 and take 30 wickets at 20.43. He has two first-class centuries and 14 half-centuries.
Jain was also named Player of the Tournament in the Duleep Trophy, where he scored two half-centuries and claimed 16 wickets in two matches. He was part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka, scoring 70 not out and taking six wickets in the second four-day match in Galle. Galle is one of the venues for the upcoming two-match Test series.
The Sri Lanka Test series is scheduled to begin with the First Test from August 15-19 in Galle, followed by the Second Test from August 23-27 in Colombo.
Source: icc-cricket.com
