Talented pacer Auqib Nabi was awarded his first call-up to the Indian senior team after spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s knee injury ruled him out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The two subcontinent sides will kick-start the series on Saturday, August 15, at the Galle International Stadium.
Auqib Nabi has been the standout bowler over the last couple of Ranji Trophy seasons, playing an integral part in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic trophy success in the 2025-26 edition. The right-arm pacer had to wait for his chance after not being considered for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, and the Sri Lanka tour initially.
However, with Bumrah still struggling with his injury, and the team management not willing to risk him considering the high-stakes fixtures in the future, Auqib Nabi made it to the squad as an injury replacement.
“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,” BCCI’s official statement read.
On that note, let us take a look at the three reasons why Auqib Nabi is the right replacement for Jasprit Bumrah in the SL vs IND 2026 Tests.
#1 A bowler accustomed and suitable for the subcontinent
Auqib Nabi, a consistent feature in the Jammu and Kashmir side in the Ranji Trophy and domestic circuit over the years, has put in serious overs in the subcontinent conditions, and with great success, too. While there is no outright concept of subcontinent specialist seamers, India could use one given that their pace bowling in such conditions has been rather ordinary outside of Jasprit Bumrah in recent times.
With Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, the most experienced bowlers in the pace bowling unit now, largely bowling outside the subcontinent when it comes to red-ball cricket, India could use a candidate who has a firm grip on such conditions, atleast for the sake of variety, if not prowess.
Moreover, his skillset and profile are also ideal for subcontinent conditions. While Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar can hit the deck hard with their height and pace, which has its own set of advantages, Auqib Nabi’s ability to move the ball and get it to skid, might prove to be more impactful in Sri Lankan conditions.
#2 Gives India the option of batting depth
Team India’s obsession with batting depth, regardless of the format, is quite well-known. Apart from his undisputed bowling talent, Auqib Nabi also brings to the table his ability to hang around with the bat.
India have assured themselves security by replacing Washington Sundar with Saransh Jain, who is also capable of batting. However, with Sai Sudharsan yet to cleared by the medical team, coupled with the fact that India’s batting against spin has been dismal in the recent past, the team management might look for as much cover as possible.
Considering that the pacers apart from Nabi might contribute to a long tail, with batting possibly ending at No.7, there is a chance that his call-up comes across as a blessing in disguise as it offers balance to the side.
A match-defining 42 in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 semi-final against Bengal and a solid 30 while batting at No.8 in the recent unofficial Test between India ‘A’ and Sri Lanka ‘A’, are just few of the examples to show how he can make a difference with the bat as well.
#3 India could use a red-ball specialist in their Test setup at this time
Team India at the height of their Test prowess always had a bowler who predominantly only played red-ball cricket, like Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav, among others. In recent times, given the demand for bowlers across all formats, and a constantly changing player pool, red-ball specialists have died down.
Even in the current squad, the likes of Siraj, Prasidh, and Gurnoor Brar have all prominently featured in white-ball cricket of late. Even the latest prospects like Prince Yadav, Yash Thakur, and Ashok Sharma, are more accustomed to white-ball cricket.
As such, having Auqib Nabi, who also has white-ball ability, but largley known for his red-ball exploits, is a much-needed addition to the setup, and one who must be groomed and kept in the pace bowling pool.
Edited by Gokul Nair