Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has hit out at the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel for leaving out Jammu and Kashmir quick Auqib Nabi from India’s plans for the upcoming one-off Test versus Afghanistan. The 29-year-old has been in outstanding form in the Ranji Trophy for the past two seasons, and his impact in 2025-26 played a major role as Jammu and Kashmir lifted the top domestic prize for the first time.
In the 2025-26 Ranji season, Nabi ended as the leading wicket-taker, removing 60 batters across 17 innings at an average of 12.65. He was also named Player of the Tournament. Looking at the bigger picture of the last two Ranji campaigns, Nabi has taken 104 wickets in total.
Manjrekar called the decision to ignore Auqib “ridiculous”, arguing that the Ranji Trophy should be done away with if selectors keep sidelining proven performers despite their numbers and match-winning ability.
“I used to enjoy the old days when huge injustice would be met with public protests. People would come out on the streets with placards and demand answers. These days the noise is mostly on social media, but this is one non-selection that I genuinely can’t comprehend,” Manjrekar said on Sporstar’s Insight Edge Podcast.
He went on to add that the omission makes little sense. “It’s actually ridiculous. When Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj aren’t playing—whether they’re being rested or managed for the longer term—then you might as well not have the Ranji Trophy if performances like these are going to be ignored,” he said.
“Beyond me”
For the Afghanistan Test, India are set to rest Jasprit Bumrah, and the pace attack is expected to be led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Manjrekar said he could have accepted Nabi’s exclusion if Siraj, Bumrah and Shami had been unavailable, but that still doesn’t explain the choice he believes has been made.
“I would have understood it if the fast-bowling spots were taken by Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj and Shami, and Nabi couldn’t find a place. But this is beyond me. It’s not a sound cricketing decision, because when you compare his record with some others in the group, it’s clear that tremendous injustice has been done,” he added.
Manjrekar also pointed to the wider narrative around Nabi. “It was an incredible chapter for Indian cricket—Jammu and Kashmir winning the Ranji Trophy—and this was the man who almost single-handedly guided them to the title. It was a no-brainer, and it’s really sad that he isn’t there,” he said.
On Nabi’s development, Manjrekar noted that while the pacer first came to prominence as a red-ball specialist, his growth in the white-ball format has been just as significant in recent years. Nabi finished the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 15 wickets in seven matches, and that showing helped earn him a spot at the IPL 2026 auction, where Delhi Capitals snapped him up for Rs. 8.40 crore.
