Why didn’t Auqib Nabi bowl a single over in SLCXI vs IND warmup Test?
(Courtesy : BCCI)
India used seven different bowlers in first innings of SLCXI vs IND.
Auqib Nabi’s inclusion in India‘s Test setup for the Sri Lanka tour marked a significant step in the Jammu & Kashmir pacer’s career. He earned his place in the squad after an impressive domestic season and was brought into the Test group after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the series due to knee injury.
Nabi was part of the India A setup for the multi-day matches in Sri Lanka. Following this, he joined India’s team for the two-match Test series. The three-day warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI commenced on August 7 at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo, thereby providing the Indian players with an opportunity to practice ahead of their first Test.
In the warm-up match, on Day 1, Sri Lanka Cricket XI batted first and scored 363 runs in 90 overs. India’s bowling attack consisted of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, and Saransh Jain. Nabi did not bowl in the innings despite being part of the travelling party.
Why Auqib Nabi didn’t bowl against Sri Lanka XI in warmup game?
It is not certain why Auqib Nabi has not bowled in this match. There have been no comments from team management regarding any injury or any other reason behind his absence.
India used seven other bowlers during the Sri Lankan innings, including the three fast bowlers, namely Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar; and spinners, namely Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain, among others.
Nabi’s absence from bowling cannot be interpreted as an indication of fitness problems. While the available details indicate that the team management has opted to rotate bowlers in the practice match, the precise reason for not utilising Nabi remains unclear.
After the unavailability of Jasprit Bumrah, the inclusion of Nabi himself was important in India’s Test squad. The 29-year-old has been one of the successful bowlers from Jammu and Kashmir in the domestic circuit and has also been part of the India A side in multi-day matches in Sri Lanka. He was at his best in Ranji Trophy last season, where he was the leading wicket-taker with around 60 wickets to his name.
With India using the warm-up fixture to assess several bowling options, Nabi could still get an opportunity later in the practice match. However, unless the team management explains, it would be incorrect to attribute his lack of bowling to injury or any other specific issue.
Did Auqib Nabi play in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka XI?
Yes, Nabi was part of India’s squad for the three-day warm-up match but didn’t bowl.
Why was Auqib Nabi included in India’s Test squad?
Nabi was added to India’s Test squad after Jasprit Bumrah became unavailable for the Sri Lanka series.
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Anubha Anandita Pathak is a sports enthusiast with a strong passion for cricket and basketball, shaped by her experience as a district-level basketball and kabaddi player. A loyal Golden State Warriors supporter, she closely follows Stephen Curry’s style of play. With on-ground reporting experience covering the Indian Super League and Karnataka’s hockey circuit, Anubha brings both perspective and passion to her storytelling.