Surprising Exclusion of Auqib Nabi from India's Test Squad Against Afghanistan
Nabi's Omission Raises Eyebrows
In a surprising move, Auqib Nabi was left out of the Test squad for the upcoming one-off match against Afghanistan. Instead, selectors opted for Gurnoor Brar to fill in for the injured Jasprit Bumrah. Nabi, who has been a standout performer in the Ranji Trophy over the past two seasons, was anticipated to receive his first call-up to the national team. He concluded the 2025-26 Ranji season as the leading wicket-taker, contributing significantly to Jammu and Kashmir's historic Ranji Trophy victory. Last season, he claimed an impressive 44 wickets.
Commenting on Nabi's exclusion, a former Indian opener questioned the selectors' decision, pondering whether they might consider him for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. "One thing is clear: Auqib Nabi has been the top wicket-taker recently. What is the selection committee's rationale? Will they include him directly for the New Zealand series? That could happen, or perhaps they believe they need more pace and bounce, which Nabi may not provide compared to Gurnoor Brar," he expressed on his YouTube channel.
Following the Afghanistan Test, India is set to face Sri Lanka in two Tests in June, before heading to New Zealand for a series comprising two Tests, five ODIs, and five T20Is in late 2026. Nabi boasts a record of 156 wickets from 41 first-class matches and is currently part of the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, having participated in four matches thus far.
Shubman Gill's Comeback
Shubman Gill Returns to the Test Squad
Shubman Gill has made his comeback to the Test team for this match. The captain of the Test and ODI teams missed the last Test against South Africa due to a neck injury, with Rishabh Pant stepping in as captain during his absence. Gill will now be supported by KL Rahul, who takes over as vice-captain from Pant. The Test squad also sees the inclusion of three newcomers: Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, and Manav Suther, with Gurnoor and Dubey being part of both formats.