Why was Auqib Nabi not picked in India squad for Sri Lanka Tests?

Auqib Nabi’s omission from India’s Sri Lanka Test squad has raised questions.

The Indian Cricket Team’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka was announced on Tuesday, July 28. The squad featured a few notable inclusions, still, one name that missed out despite an impressive domestic season was Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi. The selectors retained a pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar, with Bumrah’s participation subject to fitness clearance.

Auqib Nabi had been among the standout performers in India’s domestic circuit over the last two seasons and was also part of the India A setup for the tour of Sri Lanka. His omission from the senior squad came as a surprise to many given his recent performances in red-ball cricket.

However, the squad composition reflects the conditions expected in Sri Lanka, where spin traditionally plays a greater role than pace. That meant the selectors opted for a spin-heavy attack while limiting the number of specialist fast bowlers in the squad.

Why was Auqib Nabi left out of India’s squad for SL vs IND Tests?

The main reason Nabi was left out of the team could have been characteristics of the pitches in Sri Lanka, as the pitches help spinners a lot in Test matches. The spinners are very effective later in the match, which forced India to go for more spinners and fewer fast bowlers in the team. Thus, with four pacers being part of the team, the selectors had to use the other slots for spinners.

Furthermore, the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah is also an important factor. He is included in the squad but has to report to the COE first for final approval. In case he does not clear the fitness test, Nabi is still an option to replace him.

Despite missing out, Nabi’s domestic numbers continue to strengthen his case for a future India call-up. The Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler has played 43 first-class matches, taking 162 wickets at an average of 18.63, including 16 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket match hauls. He has also contributed 999 runs with the bat, underlining his value as a bowling all-rounder.

In the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, Nabi was among the top achievers, leading the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with 60 dismissals, calculated after 10 games where he played at an average of 12.5. This was his major contribution to Jammu and Kashmir winning the first-ever Ranji Trophy. He was awarded the Player of the Tournament by the board.

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