Auqib Nabi replaces injured Bumrah, earns maiden India Test call-up
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Bumrah Ruled Out
India’s Test squad announcement for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour has taken a surprising turn as Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out due to a persistent left knee injury.
In his place, uncapped seamer Auqib Nabi has been called up for the two-match series. Losing their star pacer before the tour is always challenging, but Nabi’s inclusion makes sense as his domestic tally speaks volumes about his ability to contribute.
A first for J&K
If Nabi gets a chance to play, it will be a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir as he will be the first-ever Test player from the region. He would join the ranks of Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik, who have represented India in limited-overs formats.
It will be a significant achievement for Jammu and Kashmir, which has produced several talented cricketers but none have had an opportunity to play Test cricket till now.
Who is Nabi?
Nabi is a 29-year-old right-arm seamer who has been in tremendous form in the domestic circuit this year. He has been one of the most consistent pacers in the country, claiming 104 wickets in the last two Ranji Trophy seasons.
Title-winning season
Nabi’s most impressive campaign came in the 2025-26 Ranji season, where he was the second-highest wicket-taker as Jammu and Kashmir won the title for the first time in their history.
He chipped in with 60 wickets in the tournament, including six wickets in two matches in Sri Lanka during the recent India A tour.
Injuries to Bumrah
Bumrah has been nursing a left knee injury, which he picked up while playing the ODI series against England.
The pacer has had fitness issues since the T20 World Cup, and the management felt it was best to leave him out of the upcoming Test series to give him more time to recover.
India’s pace bowling options
With Bumrah out of the equation, India’s pace bowling options for the Sri Lanka series are Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, and Auqib Nabi.
The team has opted to carry a relatively inexperienced pace attack, with Mohammed Siraj likely to lead the attack in the absence of Bumrah. However, there is enough quality in the squad to trouble the Sri Lankan batters.
Series schedule
India will play a three-day warm-up match in Colombo, starting on 7 th August, before the first Test, which will be held in Galle on 15 th August. The pitch is known to be a challenging one, which will be a good test for the Indian seamers.
What it means
Losing Jasprit Bumrah would be a setback for any team, but in this case, it may turn out to be an advantage. Nabi has been in tremendous form in the domestic circuit, and his inclusion in the squad is a reward for his consistency.
He has the potential to make an impact in Sri Lanka, and if he does, it will open the door for him to play more Test matches for India in the future.
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