Auqib Nabi has been picked for India’s Test squad for the first time, replacing the injured Jasprit Bumrah for the two-match series in Sri Lanka.
A standout domestic record
The Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler has been among the leading performers in Indian domestic cricket for two seasons. He took 44 wickets in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, then followed it with 60 in 2025-26, helping Jammu & Kashmir win their first Ranji Trophy title. He was named Player of the Tournament and became only the third fast bowler, and seventh bowler overall, to pass 60 wickets in a single Ranji season.
Nabi, who is 24, added to his case on India A’s tour of Sri Lanka, where he took six wickets in two four-day matches. His first-class record stands at 162 wickets from 43 matches at an average of 18.63.
Fixtures
The first Test begins on August 15 at Galle International Stadium. The second starts on August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
India squad
Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi.
