Galle, August 13, 2026 : Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has earned his maiden India Test call-up after years of hard work, patience and unwavering belief that his opportunity to represent the country would eventually arrive.
Nabi was drafted into the Indian squad as a replacement for injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning in Galle on Saturday.
The call-up comes after a breakthrough domestic season in which Nabi played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic maiden Ranji Trophy title triumph.
“I Knew I Would Get the Call-Up”
Speaking to fellow uncapped player Saransh Jain in a video shared by the BCCI, Nabi said he always believed that consistently performing well would eventually bring him closer to the national team.
He said a cricketer’s primary focus should remain on performing and taking wickets, while leaving the selection process to the selectors.
Nabi recalled the moment his name was announced and said the achievement brought immense happiness to his family.
“I knew that I would get the call-up today or tomorrow because when you are doing well for so many years, you are meant to get the returns from the hard work.”
For Nabi, the India call-up represents the reward for years of perseverance and consistent performances at the domestic level.
An Unexpected Call at the Airport
Nabi revealed that he learnt about his selection while he was at the airport preparing to travel to Bengaluru for a camp at the Centre of Excellence.
He received a call asking about his whereabouts and was then informed that he did not need to travel to Bengaluru.
Instead, he had been selected for the Indian squad and needed to travel to Sri Lanka.
Nabi said he initially found it difficult to believe because the Indian squad had already been announced and he had been preparing to attend the camp.
Saransh Jain Shares His Own Journey
Saransh Jain, who was part of Madhya Pradesh’s 2021-22 Ranji Trophy-winning team, also spoke about the importance of patience in a cricketer’s journey.
The 33-year-old made his Ranji Trophy debut in the 2014-15 season and said his long journey was marked by hard work, sacrifices and the belief that his opportunity to play for India would eventually come.
He credited his family, particularly his father — himself a Ranji Trophy player — for constantly encouraging him to remain patient.
Domestic Cricket Helped Them Settle In
Jain also said his experience of playing alongside many current Indian players in domestic cricket helped him settle into the national setup quickly.
According to him, around 70–80 per cent of the players were familiar faces from his domestic cricket journey, making the transition into the squad much easier.
For Auqib Nabi, the call-up is another significant milestone in the remarkable rise of a Jammu and Kashmir cricketer who helped deliver the region its first-ever Ranji Trophy title.
Now, with his India dream finally within reach, Nabi will look to turn years of patience and hard work into a memorable Test debut.
