Auqib Nabi’s surprise exclusion from India’s squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan triggered sharp criticism, but the fast bowler’s situation changed quickly. Days later, Indian team management called him to Mullanpur—the venue for the match beginning later this week—though he has not been named to the official playing group.
Key takeaways
- Auqib Nabi has been requested to join India’s nets at Mullanpur, even though he is not part of the official Test squad.
- He arrived as one of seven pace options in India’s net-bowling group at the PCA Stadium in Tira.
- Training intensity is expected to be limited for Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna due to heavy workload from the IPL and harsh weather.
- After a standout Ranji Trophy run—60 wickets and J&K’s maiden title—Nabi was widely viewed as a likely Test selection, but Gurnoor Brar was chosen instead.
- India’s first training session is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, with several Gujarat Titans players unavailable after the IPL final.
Nabi called into the nets as India manage workload
A report on Tuesday said Nabi, the Jammu and Kashmir speed bowler, was included in a group of seven bowlers who reached the PCA Stadium in Tira as net bowlers. The purpose is to give India’s batting unit sufficient match-preparation work ahead of the one-off Test in Mullanpur, which is set to start later this week.
The same report also pointed to the likelihood that India’s lead quicks—Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna—will not be able to bowl at full intensity during practice. The reasoning was twofold: both have come through a demanding IPL campaign and the training environment is being described as extremely harsh, with conditions making it difficult to replicate game-speed spells safely.
A BCCI source familiar with the development clarified that Nabi is not the only addition. “Yes, Auqib Nabi has been asked to join the India nets. It is not just Auqib but six others who have also been called,” the source said. The official added that, because of the extreme weather, Siraj and Krishna cannot go flat out in the nets after a gruelling stretch of games and travel, and that the batters still need adequate practice time.
Why Nabi missed out—Brar gets the red-ball nod
Nabi’s call-up chatter began to gather force after a record-breaking Ranji Trophy season. He finished with 60 wickets and played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir winning their first-ever title. That impact also fed into expectations around his Test chances, with his recent Ranji numbers standing out even more: in the last two Ranji Trophy seasons combined, Nabi took 104 wickets across 18 matches at an impressive average of 13.14.
Yet, when selectors looked for fast-bowling depth for the Afghanistan Test—scheduled to begin on June 6—Nabi was overlooked. Instead, Punjab seamer Gurnoor Brar was preferred, even though Nabi had been considered a strong candidate after his Ranji surge.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar offered the explanation that while good performers always attract attention, the pool of seam options is limited when India play in home conditions. He said: “Someone who has done well over the last two seasons, there’s always a chat around that, but you don’t get a lot of seamers in when you play in India.”
The decision, however, raised eyebrows. Brar may have been less established as a red-ball bowler, but his physical make-up appeared to be central to the selection logic. Standing at 6ft 5in, Brar is capable of repeatedly hitting the 145 kmph range, while Nabi generally operates between 125 and 135 kmph. That difference in pace ceiling and delivery pressure is believed to have influenced the final call.
Still, the rationale did not sit well with former India captain and ex-selection committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar. He questioned the value of the Ranji Trophy if top performances in the competition do not translate into opportunities at the highest level.
Where Nabi stands now, and who misses the first session
The report further stated that Nabi remains outside the official 15-member squad, but is available as a stand-by option. In the current squad, Siraj, Krishna and Brar are the three specialist pacers, and Nabi would be drafted in only if there is an injury concern to one of them.
India are scheduled to hold their first training session on Tuesday afternoon. However, seven players from the Gujarat Titans camp will miss that session because they were in action in the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The players listed as unavailable are captain Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar and Washington Sundar.
