Jammu and Kashmir’s Auqib Nabi replaces Jasprit Bumrah in India’s Test squad for Sri Lanka tour

By Arjun Nair / 03.08.2026

By Arjun Nair — 3 August 2026 — 3 min read

Auqib Nabi, a fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, has received his maiden call-up to the India Test squad. He will replace the injured Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The 29-year-old seamer’s selection comes after a period of strong performances in domestic cricket.

Bumrah has been ruled out of the two-match series due to a knee injury. The 31-year-old has been managing this injury since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and recently returned to international cricket, making his ODI comeback against England. However, he featured in only two matches before experiencing discomfort in his knee, leading to his withdrawal from the final game and now the Sri Lanka tour.

India confirmed Bumrah’s absence, stating he has not fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. The Men’s Selection Committee subsequently named Auqib Nabi as his replacement.

Nabi’s Journey to the National Squad

Nabi’s path to the national team has been marked by determination and consistent effort. He has been a prominent performer in the Ranji Trophy, claiming 104 wickets over the last two seasons. This includes 60 wickets during the 2025-26 campaign, where he played a significant role in Jammu and Kashmir‘s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.

His strong domestic form also saw him included in the India A squad that recently toured Sri Lanka. During that tour, Nabi secured six wickets in two first-class matches, further showcasing his capabilities.

Nabi’s early cricketing journey involved overcoming challenges, including borrowing bowling spikes for his first U-19 trial in Jammu and Kashmir. He also regularly travelled one and a half hours from Baramulla to Srinagar to access proper turf wickets for practice.

According to P. Krishnakumar, Jammu and Kashmir’s bowling coach, Nabi initially focused on bowling outswingers when he joined the J&K team for the Buchi Babu Trophy in Salem in 2023. However, his dedication to learning led him to work on developing an inswinger, which eventually became a significant weapon in his arsenal. Krishnakumar also noted Nabi’s excellent wrist position as one of his key strengths.

Nabi also addressed some biomechanical issues with Krishnakumar, and the results of this work began to appear in the 2024-25 season. He learned to effectively use the ball, bowl across different sessions, and identify batters’ weaknesses, improving his overall preparation.

Impact and Future Plans

Beyond his technical development, Nabi credits a shift in mindset for his improvement. He stated that he now focuses on bowling in good areas rather than solely on taking wickets, trusting the basics regardless of pitch conditions.

Nabi’s domestic performances also led to an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with the Delhi Capitals, valued at Rs 8.40 crore. Although his first IPL season did not yield a wicket in five matches, he has plans to use the earnings to establish a cricket academy in Baramulla. His aim is to provide facilities and training for aspiring cricketers in his hometown, where he believes there are currently limited resources.

Bumrah’s injury adds to India’s growing list of concerns, with Harshit Rana (hamstring), Nitish Kumar Reddy (quad), and Washington Sundar (hamstring) also ruled out of the Sri Lanka tour. Sai Sudharsan is working to recover from a toe injury to prove his fitness for the opening Test.

The upcoming series holds importance as part of the World Test Championship. India currently sits fifth in the standings with a points percentage of 48.15, while Sri Lanka is sixth with 41.67. The first Test is scheduled to begin on August 15 in Galle, followed by the second Test from August 23-27 in Colombo.

The India squad for the series includes Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan (fitness pending), Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, and Auqib Nabi.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com