Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Aqib Nabi has received his maiden call-up to India’s Test squad ahead of the two-match series against Sri Lanka, after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out with a knee injury. The selection marks a significant moment in Nabi’s career and places him among only three cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir to have been called up to India’s senior national side.
Before Nabi, Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik had represented the region at international level. Nabi, however, could potentially go a step further. Should he be selected in India’s playing XI and make his Test debut, he would become the first cricketer from Kashmir to play Test cricket for India.
At 29, Nabi is a right-arm fast bowler from a village in Baramulla district. His rise has been built largely on sustained performances in domestic first-class cricket, where he has developed a reputation for consistency and the ability to bowl long spells. His recent Ranji Trophy campaign proved particularly influential in bringing him into the national selectors’ reckoning.
Nabi claimed more than 100 wickets across the past two Ranji Trophy seasons, including a competition-leading 60 wickets in the 2025-26 campaign. His contribution came during a landmark season for Jammu and Kashmir, who won the Ranji Trophy for the first time in their history. Nabi’s effectiveness with the ball was a major component of the team’s successful campaign and helped establish him as one of the leading fast bowlers in domestic cricket.
His overall first-class record also underlines his credentials. In 43 matches, Nabi has taken 162 wickets at an average of 18.63. Such figures point to a bowler who has been consistently effective over the longer format, where patience, accuracy, stamina and the ability to maintain pressure over extended periods are essential qualities.
Nabi also has some previous experience of playing in Sri Lankan conditions. During India’s ‘A’ team’s tour of Sri Lanka, he featured in two four-day matches and claimed six wickets. That exposure could prove useful if he is called upon during the Test series, particularly as adapting to unfamiliar conditions can be one of the biggest challenges for a player making the transition from domestic to international cricket.
His experience is not limited to red-ball cricket. Nabi also played for Delhi Capitals in the 2026 Indian Premier League season. Exposure to one of the world’s most competitive domestic T20 tournaments has given him an opportunity to operate in a high-pressure environment alongside established international players. While Test cricket demands a very different approach, the experience of playing at a major professional level can help a newcomer adjust to the intensity surrounding international cricket.
Nabi’s opportunity has emerged after Bumrah was left out of the Sri Lanka series because he had not fully recovered from the knee injury sustained during the one-day international series against England. The medical team at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru is understood to have prioritised a cautious rehabilitation process, with India’s demanding schedule ahead making a rushed return potentially undesirable.
Bumrah’s absence is compounded by the unavailability of Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar, at least for the opening Test. Their absence has reduced India’s bowling options and created an opening for Nabi at a crucial stage of his career.
His inclusion in the squad, however, does not guarantee a place in the final XI. He will still have to compete for selection and convince the team management that he is ready for the demands of international Test cricket. If given the opportunity, his ability to maintain control with the new ball, sustain pressure through long spells and adapt to Sri Lanka’s conditions will be closely watched.
For Nabi, the call-up itself is already a landmark achievement. But a Test debut would carry significance far beyond his personal career. It would represent another major chapter in the cricketing journey of Jammu and Kashmir and potentially make Nabi the first Kashmiri cricketer to play Test cricket for India.
From a village in Baramulla to the threshold of India’s Test side, Nabi’s journey has been built through years of domestic cricket and consistent performances. Now, the biggest question is whether he can take the final step from the squad to the playing XI. If he does, his debut could mark the beginning of a new chapter for both his career and the cricketing history of Kashmir.
