Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has achieved a major career milestone by earning his first-ever India Test call-up. The 29-year-old has been added to the squad as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Bumrah was unavailable for selection after not fully recovering from the left knee injury he suffered during the ODI series against England.
Nabi’s consistent performances in domestic cricket paved the way for his national selection. The right-arm fast bowler has taken 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including an impressive 60-wicket haul in the 2025-26 campaign. His contributions played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir winning their maiden Ranji Trophy championship.
The pacer had also impressed during India A’s recent tour of Sri Lanka. Representing India A in two four-day matches against Sri Lanka A, Nabi claimed six wickets, including a standout performance of 4 wickets for 58 runs in the first innings of the opening match.
On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah’s return to Test cricket has been delayed further as he continues his recovery from injury. He was selected in India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka series after being asked to undergo a fitness assessment at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, but he has not regained full fitness in time.
Bumrah’s workload has been closely monitored since his back injury during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. He played only three matches in India’s five-Test series against England last year before being rested for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June.
India’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka series will be captained by Shubman Gill, with KL Rahul named as vice-captain. Sai Sudharsan remains included in the squad, depending on his fitness status.
