New Delhi: India have handed a maiden senior international call-up to Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi, who has been named as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
Bumrah has been ruled out of the series after failing to fully recover from the left knee injury he sustained during the ODI series against England. With the premier fast bowler unavailable, the Men’s Selection Committee has turned to Nabi following his outstanding performances in domestic cricket.
The call-up represents a major milestone in the career of the Jammu and Kashmir pacer, who has emerged as one of the most prolific fast bowlers on the Indian domestic circuit in recent seasons.
Nabi claimed an impressive 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy campaigns. His performances reached another level during the 2025-26 season, when he picked up 60 wickets and played a pivotal role in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.
His consistency at domestic level also earned him a place in the India A squad for their recent tour of Sri Lanka. Nabi continued to impress in unfamiliar conditions, taking six wickets across two first-class matches and strengthening his case for senior selection.
The absence of Bumrah will be a significant setback for India, given his experience and ability to influence Test matches with both the new and old ball.
For Nabi, however, the Sri Lanka series presents a potentially career-defining opportunity. After years of impressive performances in the Ranji Trophy, the fast bowler now has the chance to make his mark at the highest level and push for a place in India’s Test pace attack. (BCCI)
