Auqib Nabi, Jammu and Kashmir’s poster boy of cricket, has finally taken the first step to fulfill his dream of playing international cricket.
The 29-year-old seamer replaced the injured Jasprit Bumrah in the Test squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka on Monday.
Nabi’s performances in the domestic circuit have forced the national selectors to sit up and take notice. He comes into the side having taken 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including 60 in the 2025-26 campaign, where he played a massive role in J&K’s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.
He was also part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka recently, where he claimed six wickets in two first-class matches. If he gets to make his Test debut, he will be the first Test cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to do so.
Hailing from Sheeri, Baramulla, Nabi has come through the hard yards. Initially, he had to travel almost 60km to train in Srinagar, but it hardly mattered to the hard-working pacer.
A rhythmic action, with good wrist position and a natural outswinger, was his weapon for success in the domestic circuit.
Despite the odds, Nabi never complains.
“No excuses if you want to play for India,” his father Ghulam Nabi told reporters after his selection in his hometown on Monday.
Auqib has never been the sort to complain. He remained focused on his task of taking wickets. Even unhelpful conditions, difficult weather, limited resources or setbacks could not deter him from his goal.
His endurance has always played a big role in his development. He could bowl long spells even on unresponsive pitches and stifling heat. He worked hard on his inswinger, which has fetched him a lot of wickets in the last two Ranji seasons.
In the quarter-final in Indore against Madhya Pradesh last season, Nabi performed the rescue act for the champions. After J&K were bowled out for 194, he helped them bounce back by claiming seven wickets in Madhya Pradesh’s first innings to decisively turn the match.
In the semi-final against Bengal at Kalyani, J&K conceded the first-innings lead. But Nabi ripped through Bengal, bowling them out for 99 on their home turf in the second innings.
“Nabi has been phenomenal,” coach Ajay Sharma said after their victory in the final against Karnataka, eight-time champions with five Test players in their ranks.
“I haven’t seen a bowler like him in a long time. He is very simple, he just keeps bowling at you relentlessly. He has been consistent for two years and is the highest wicket-taker this season. The sky is the limit for him.”
Coach Sharma called him ‘Srinagar-side after he had been adjudged Man of the Match in seven of their 10 matches.
J&K’s bowling coach P. Krishna Kumar has had a hand in shaping Nabi’s bowling. His lack of pace – he bowls in the region of 125-130kmph – could be a concern in international cricket, but Kumar thinks he can make it up with his accuracy and discipline.
Nabi idolises Dale Steyn, but Parvez Rasool fuelled his dream of playing for the country. “When Rasool debuted for India, all of us realised that a career in cricket was possible. He was one of us. I was also inspired. We had seen him in local grounds. I decided I could do it too,” Nabi said after the Ranji triumph.
“We didn’t have any role models… But after we started winning, and he got picked for India, the rest of the players thought: ‘we can do it too’. That motivation is much needed.”
Having played two unofficial Tests against Sri Lanka A in Galle, he would be familiar with the venue. The rough outfield will facilitate reverse swing and Nabi will be up for the challenge.