Fast bowler Auqib Nabi has been selected to replace injured Jasprit Bumrah for India's upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka, marking his debut call-up to the senior squad.
Jammu and Kashmir pace bowler Auqib Nabi has earned his maiden selection to India's senior cricket team as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, who remains unavailable for the Test series against Sri Lanka. Bumrah's absence stems from incomplete recovery from a left knee injury sustained during the recent ODI series against England.
The 27-year-old Nabi has established himself through strong domestic performances, accumulating 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 wickets in the 2025-26 campaign. His contributions were instrumental in Jammu and Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy title. Additionally, Nabi recently featured in India A's tour of Sri Lanka, where he took six wickets across two first-class matches. In his overall first-class career spanning 43 matches, he has captured 162 wickets at an average of 18.63.
India faces multiple injury challenges ahead of the series. Beyond Bumrah's unavailability, fast bowlers Harshit Rana and Akash Deep are sidelined by hamstring and back stress reactions respectively, while all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are dealing with quadriceps and hamstring injuries. Washington Sundar has been explicitly ruled out of the first Test.
The two-match series begins at Galle International Stadium on August 15, with the second Test scheduled for the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23. Both fixtures count toward the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. India, captained by Shubman Gill, currently holds fifth position in the championship standings with four wins and four losses from nine matches.
