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Amid the backlash over Auqib Nabi’s omission from the squad for the upcoming one-off Test between India and Afghanistan, reports have emerged that the Jammu and Kashmir right-arm pacer will join the team as a net bowler. Nabi finished as the leading wicket-taker in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, helping J&K secure a historic maiden title.
“Yes Auqib Nabi has been asked to join the India nets. It is not just Auqib but there are six others, who have also been called to join the India nets. Due to extreme weather conditions, the two premier fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna can’t go flat out in the nets after a gruelling three games in seven days with travel. The batters would need adequate practice,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying
by news agency PTI.
Nabi is among the six bowlers who will assist the Indian team during net sessions.
UP legspinner Zeeshan Ansari, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, has also been asked to bowl in the nets as the Afghanistan team is expected to have a few wrist spinners.
The right-arm pacer has taken 156 wickets in 41 first-class matches at an average of 18.37. During the Ranji Trophy season, which concluded in February this year, Auqib claimed 60 wickets at an average of 12.57, including seven five-wicket hauls.
However, Nabi was not included in the 15-member squad, with the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, instead handing a maiden call-up to Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar.
Explaining Nabi’s absence from the squad, Agarkar said the selectors had discussed the 29-year-old but felt there was limited scope for additional seamers in a Test squad for Indian conditions.
“Auqib Nabi, of course, is someone who has had a great season, not just now but last season as well,” Agarkar said. “There’s always a chat around that, but you don’t necessarily pick a lot of seamers when you pick a Test team in India. He was close, but at this point we have gone with the three that we have picked. But there was certainly a chat around that. There is no doubt that he has had some incredible performances for Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Indian Test team is also set to train this afternoon ahead of the match, which begins on June 6. However, the players who were part of IPL are unlikely to train.
The side will be led by Shubman Gill, who recently captained Gujarat Titans to the IPL final.
Meanwhile, according to The Times of India, all-rounder Hardik Pandya will report to the BCCI Centre of Excellence today. After spending a week there, he is expected to join India’s ODI squad.
Pandya is part of India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, although his availability remains “subject to fitness clearance”.
The matches will be played in Dharamsala (June 13), Lucknow (June 17) and Chennai (June 20).
Pandya’s last ODI appearance came in the ICC Champions Trophy final in March last year.
