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Jasprit Bumrah Auqib Nabi and Gautam Gambhir [Source: X]
There has been quite a buzz around Auqib Nabi's inclusion in India’s Test setup after his heroic run in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26. Nabi has been an asset for Jammu and Kashmir this season, where he has picked up 60 wickets from 17 innings at an economy rate of 2.65 and a strike rate of 28.
Moreover, it was largely due to Auqib Nabi that Jammu and Kashmir lifted their maiden trophy title, defeating Bengal in the final. This heroic display has now raised a pressing question before the Board of Control for Cricket in India, with President Mithun Manhas expressing optimism about Nabi’s selection in the national team.
Auqib Nabi’s Heroic Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Campaign
Nabi produced some ferocious displays with the ball this Ranji season. The 29-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir has 40 first-class matches under his belt and has the ability to generate late movement with the ball against both left- and right-handed batters.
Nabi can effectively swing the ball both ways, which poses trouble for batters. The quality he brings could be highly effective in SENA countries, where green pitches are often dominated by pacers.
Nabi's exploits in this Ranji season have therefore been extraordinary. He now has six five-wicket hauls this season and even managed to pick up seven wickets in a single innings twice, dismantling the batting line-ups of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Also Read: Why Jammu Kashmir Star Auqib Nabi Is Nowhere Close To India Selection? Data Confirms
Mithun Manhas Picks Up Case For Nabi’s Selection In India
As effective as he has been with the ball, Nabi’s case is now being addressed by Mithun Manhas, the BCCI president. Speaking about whether the pacer could get a chance for India in the upcoming Tests or any other international fixture, Manhas told ANI that Nabi will surely be rewarded for the consistency and class he brings.
"He has been doing exceedingly well, not only this year, I think last year he also, you know, he did exceedingly well last year as well and he's been a consistent performer, not only in first-class cricket, but in other formats as well," Manhas said.
Manhas further said that, given the way Nabi is performing, he is confident that the selectors are keeping a close watch on him and that he will get his chances in the India team.
“And I am sure he will get his reward, the way he has been performing. And I'm sure the selectors are keeping a close watch on Aqib. And I am sure you know, he will get his chances,” Manhas added.
Nevertheless, Auqib Nabi has had a dream run in domestic cricket this year. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scalped 15 wickets at an average of 13.26, and in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he took 14 wickets from seven matches at an average of 22.85.
He has dominated across formats in domestic cricket and also earned an ₹8.40 crore contract with Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026 auction.
What It Means For India To Have Auqib Nabi in Test Whites?
The Men in Blue have long overworked Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah himself has been burdened with workload concerns, and this has affected the team’s campaigns multiple times, with only Mohammed Siraj stepping up as the lead pace attacker in Test cricket to shoulder the responsibility in Bumrah’s absence.
Having an Auqib Nabi would not only add to the lethality of India’s pace attack on both foreign and domestic venues, but it would also bring a fresh perspective and a new challenge for rivals to work on, rather than facing the overly predictable duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in Test whites.
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