Auqib Nabi earns maiden Test call-up as Bumrah ruled out of Sri Lanka series
Synopsis
Auqib Nabi's Test call-up is more than a replacement pick — it is the payoff for 104 wickets across two Ranji seasons and a Ranji Trophy title. The 29-year-old becomes the first J&K cricketer ever named in India's men's Test squad, stepping into the void left by Bumrah's persistent left knee trouble ahead of a series that begins on Independence Day.
Key Takeaways
Auqib Nabi , 29, receives his maiden India Test call-up as replacement for Jasprit Bumrah , ruled out with a left knee injury.
Bumrah sustained the injury during the ODI series against England and has not yet fully recovered.
Nabi claimed 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy last season, helping Jammu & Kashmir win their maiden title; he has taken 104 wickets across two Ranji campaigns.
He is the first J&K cricketer to be named in India's men's Test squad; predecessors Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik featured only in white-ball squads.
The two-match Test series against Sri Lanka begins at the Galle International Stadium on 15 August , followed by the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club from 23–27 August .
Jammu & Kashmir seam-bowling all-rounder Auqib Nabi has received his maiden call-up to India's senior Test squad, named as the replacement for injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka beginning 15 August. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the development on Monday, 3 August, stating that Bumrah had not fully recovered from a left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England.
Why Bumrah Was Ruled Out
Jasprit Bumrah had initially been named in the main squad subject to achieving fitness clearance. However, the Men's Selection Committee confirmed he remained unfit. “Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka as he has not yet fully recovered from the left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. The Men's Selection Committee has named Auqib Nabi as Bumrah's replacement. The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler earns his maiden call-up to the senior national team,” the BCCI said.
Nabi's Domestic Record That Earned the Call-Up
The 29-year-old right-arm seamer's selection is the product of sustained domestic dominance. Nabi claimed 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy last season, playing a central role in guiding Jammu & Kashmir to their maiden Ranji Trophy title. Across the last two Ranji campaigns, he has accumulated a combined tally of 104 wickets.
His consistent performances had previously earned him a maiden IPL contract with Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, though he went wicketless across five appearances. More pertinently, Nabi was part of the India A side that toured Sri Lanka, returning six wickets in two four-day matches as the visitors won the series 1-0. He had also served as a back-up net bowler during India's one-off Test against Afghanistan before this full squad inclusion.
A Historic Moment for J&K Cricket
Nabi's Test call-up is a landmark for Jammu & Kashmir cricket. He joins all-rounder Parvez Rasool and express pacer Umran Malik as players from the region to have received a senior India call-up — but becomes the first J&K cricketer to be named in the men's Test squad. Rasool and Malik had both featured in white-ball squads only.
Squad Logistics and Series Schedule
Nabi, who had been at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for conditioning work ahead of the Duleep Trophy, will now travel to Mumbai to join the Indian Test squad before their departure to Colombo on Tuesday. He will slot into a pace attack alongside Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnoor Brar.
India are scheduled to play a three-day practice match at the NCC ground in Colombo from 7–9 August, before moving to Galle for the first Test at the Galle International Stadium starting 15 August. The second Test follows at the Sinhalese Sports Club from 23–27 August.
India's updated Test squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan (subject to fitness clearance), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, and Auqib Nabi.
Point of View
But placing a debutant seamer in Bumrah's shoes against a Sri Lankan side on home pitches is a significant ask. Selectors will also be watching Sai Sudharsan's fitness clearance situation, meaning India could head into a Test series opener with two conditional squad members. The broader question is whether the team management has a contingency plan for a post-Bumrah pace attack, or whether each absence continues to be treated as a one-off replacement exercise.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Auqib Nabi called up for the India Test squad?
Auqib Nabi was named as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to a left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England. The BCCI confirmed the change on 3 August.
What is Auqib Nabi's domestic cricket record?
Nabi claimed 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy last season and played a key role in Jammu & Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy title win. Across two Ranji campaigns, the 29-year-old right-arm seamer has taken a combined 104 wickets.
Is Auqib Nabi the first cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir to play Test cricket for India?
Nabi is the first J&K cricketer to be named in India's men's Test squad. Earlier players from the region — Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik — received senior India call-ups but only for white-ball squads.
When and where does the India vs Sri Lanka Test series begin?
The first Test begins on 15 August at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka. The second Test is scheduled at the Sinhalese Sports Club from 23 to 27 August.
Who are the other pacers in India's updated Test squad for the Sri Lanka series?
Nabi joins a pace attack comprising Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnoor Brar. The full squad is led by Shubman Gill, with KL Rahul as vice-captain.
