Auqib Nabi replaces Bumrah in India’s Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka. The BCCI confirmed the 29-year-old seamer from Baramulla as Bumrah’s replacement on Monday, making him the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected in India’s Test setup. If he makes his debut, he will be the first Test cricketer the state has ever produced.
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Auqib Nabi replaces Jasprit Bumrah in India’s Test squad.
Details ๐ฝ #TeamIndia | #SLvIND https://t.co/lAf25FbpDN
โ BCCI (@BCCI) August 3, 2026
“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.”
BCCI, official statement, August 3, 2026
Nabi is the third J&K cricketer to receive a senior India call-up after Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik, both of whom represented India in white-ball formats only. None played Test cricket.
His new-ball partner at J&K, Sunil Kumar, said the selection has broken a barrier the state had been waiting for.
“This is the first time that a guy from the state has gone to the Test Team. With the way our team was playing, especially in the past 2 years, we used to talk about who will break the barrier of getting into the national Test team and the person whose name always came first in this regard was of Auqib bhai. Now, we all can see that he has achieved it. So, everyone here will get a boost as now that door is open, which was closed for a long time.”
Sunil Kumar, IANS interview, August 3, 2026
“Auqib bhai” is a term of respect used for a senior teammate in South Asian cricket.
Weโve seen him quietly put in the work, and today it pays off ๐ฅน
Auqib Nabi plays for India ๐ฎ๐ณ pic.twitter.com/1Ei1GPsR2Q
โ Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) August 3, 2026
Bumrah sustained an impact injury to his left knee while fielding during the second ODI against England in Cardiff on July 16. He reported to the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for rehabilitation, but recovery progressed slower than expected. He did not travel with the squad over the weekend.
His absence adds to India’s growing fitness concerns ahead of a series that counts toward their World Test Championship standing. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Washington Sundar are also unavailable for at least the first Test. Akash Deep remains sidelined with stress reactions in his back.
Hard work rewarded. ๐ฎ๐ณ
Auqib Nabi gets his maiden Team India call-up for the Sri Lanka tour after being named as Jasprit Bumrahโs replacement. #SLvIND #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/qLpW8KhbLQโ Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) August 3, 2026
What Made Auqib Nabi the Pick to Replace Bumrah
Nabi finished the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy as the season’s highest wicket-taker: 60 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 12.65. He claimed seven five-wicket hauls, equalling the record for most five-fors by a pacer in a single Ranji edition.
Across the last two seasons, his 104 wickets put him behind only Jaydev Unadkat among seamers for wickets in successive Ranji campaigns. His overall first-class record reads 162 wickets in 43 matches at 18.63.
In the Ranji final against Karnataka in Hubballi, Nabi took 5/54, removing KL Rahul, Karun Nair for nought, and centurion Mayank Agarwal as J&K won their maiden title. He was named Player of the Tournament.
Despite that season, selectors left him out of India’s squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in May. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar acknowledged there had been a serious discussion about his inclusion. The backlash led to Nabi being added as a net bowler.
He was then picked for the India A tour of Sri Lanka, where he took six wickets in two four-day matches, including 4/58 at Galle. Before his name was finalised as Bumrah’s replacement, Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur was also under consideration.
Insider Read:
A seamer’s value in Sri Lanka is measured in two specific windows: the first spell with the new ball, and the burst with the second new Kookaburra. Everything in between belongs to the spinners.
Nabi proved he understands this at the exact ground where the first Test begins. His 4/58 at Galle came after Sri Lanka A had batted comfortably to 300/5. The old ball had offered nothing.
When India A captain Dhruv Jurel waited for the second new Kookaburra, Nabi found movement that had not existed moments before. He trapped two batsmen in front with sharp incoming deliveries and collapsed the innings. Sri Lanka A lost their last five wickets for 30 runs.
That is not a bowler running through a tired tail. That is a bowler who reads the moment when conditions shift and responds before the opposition adjusts.
India do not need Nabi to be Bumrah. They need someone who can hold an end, build pressure between spin spells, and strike when the ball offers something. His India A spell suggested he can do exactly that.
India’s pace options for the series now include Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, and Nabi. Galle’s surfaces will likely see India field two seamers alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Saransh Jain. Nabi’s recent match experience at that ground gives him an edge over others who have not bowled there.
The first Test begins on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium. The second starts on August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Auqib Nabi replaces Bumrah in a squad that travels on Tuesday, carrying with him the hopes of a state that has never had a Test cricketer.
Sources:
[Official statement, August 3, 2026]ย BCCI
Also Read:
- Ashwin Says Bumrah Should Play Only ODIs at 2027 World Cup
- Glen McGrath on Prasidh Krishna and Bumrah’s Longevity
- Agarkar Names 15 Fast Bowlers, Calls Shami India’s Finest Match Winner
- Ashwin on Rangana Herath and Sri Lanka’s Great Chance
- Saransh Jain’s Age and Maiden India Test Call-Up
- Gill on India’s Fitness and Injury Concerns
- India Selection Controversy: Vikrant Gupta
- Gavaskar Calls for Dropping Average Fielders Amid India’s Catching Crisis
