After not being selected for India’s squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Auqib Nabi has received a boost as he has been chosen as one of the seven net bowlers to assist India in their preparations for the match.
Alongside him, Lucknow Super Giants’ pacer Prince Yadav and Chennai Super Kings’ left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh have also been included as pace options. On the spin side, Zeeshan Ansari, Shivang Kumar, and Saransh Jain will aim to prepare India’s Test batsmen for the upcoming game.
Nabi, 29, made a strong impression before the team selection for the Afghanistan Test. He recorded a total of 60 wickets during the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season, boasting an impressive average of 12.56, including two four-wicket hauls and seven five-wicket hauls.
He was named Player of the Series after leading Jammu & Kashmir to their first Ranji Trophy title, winning against Karnataka based on first innings lead in the final held in Hubballi.
Nabi was overlooked when selectors chose Punjab’s right-arm fast bowler Gurnoor Brar, who had shown potential in his domestic performances.
“You do not necessarily pick a lot of seamers when you select a Test team in India,” chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated during the squad announcement. “And he was close. But at this point, we have gone with the three that we have picked.”
More updates to come.