Auqib Nabi Secures Debut India Test Call-Up Ahead of Sri Lanka Tour

Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi has earned his long-awaited maiden India call-up after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named him as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement in the Test squad for the Sri Lanka series, which begins on August 15. Bumrah will miss the Sri Lanka Test series as he has not yet recovered from the left knee injury he picked up during the ODI series against England.

The 29-year-old from Baramulla becomes only the third cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to represent India after Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik. Nabi’s selection follows two impressive Ranji Trophy seasons, during which he claimed 104 wickets. He picked up 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season and pretty much spearheaded the Jammu and Kashmir bowling attack. His performance was a huge reason why the team managed to lift their very first Ranji Trophy.

Impressive Domestic Form Earns National Recognition

His strong domestic performances also earned him a place in the India A squad for the recent Sri Lanka tour. The right-arm seamer finished with six wickets across the two four-day matches against Sri Lanka A, including figures of 4 for 58 in the first innings of the opening game.

Nabi had been preparing at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru ahead of the Duleep Trophy. He will now head to Mumbai to link up with the Test squad before the team leaves for Colombo on August 4.

He joins a pace group that includes Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar. India are scheduled to play a three-day practice match at the NCC in Colombo from August 7 to 9 before travelling to Galle for the opening Test on August 15. The second Test will take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23 to 27.

Bumrah Ruled Out Due to Injury

Meanwhile, Bumrah’s absence is a major setback for India’s bowling attack as the team looks to improve its chances in the World Test Championship (WTC). India are currently fifth in the standings, making the two Tests in Sri Lanka important for their hopes of reaching the WTC final.

Bumrah has remained out since suffering an injury during the second ODI against England last month. Although he was included in the original squad, his selection depended on passing a fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, but he was unable to recover in time.

The latest injury delay means Bumrah’s wait for a return to Test cricket continues after his workload had already been managed carefully following the back injury he suffered during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

He played only three of the five Tests in England last year before being rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June. India will be led by Shubman Gill in the Sri Lanka series, with KL Rahul serving as vice-captain. Sai Sudharsan also remains in the squad, subject to receiving fitness clearance.

India’s Updated Squad for the Test Series Against Sri Lanka:

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

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