Jammu and Kashmir seam bowler Auqib Nabi not being picked for the one-off Test vs Afghanistan created a lot of controversy. The man who was bought by DC for Rs. 8.4 crore ahead of IPL 2026 is now joining the squad but as a net bowler. Now nobody saw this coming.

Won’t Help in India’s WTC Ranking

The Test starts on June 6 in Mullanpur and it shall be India’s return to the longest format after over six months. But this is not part of the WTC as Afghanistan are not among the nine taking part in the 2025-27 WTC Cycle.

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"Yes, Auqib Nabi has been asked to join the India nets. It is not just Auqib but there are six others, who have also been called to join the India nets. Due to extreme weather conditions, the two premier fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna can't go flat out in the nets after a gruelling three games in seven days with travel. The batters would need adequate practice," a BCCI source told PTI.

Efforts Not Bearing Fruit

Aquib took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy as Jammu & Kashmir recorded a historic triumph. But it was still not enough to earn his way into the 15-man squad. Punjab paceman Gurnoor Brar beat him for a place.

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GT in Test Squad

As many as seven GT players are part of the Test squad. They are Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar and Washington Sundar. They are back on national duty just days after losing the IPL 2026 final vs RCB.

This is only the 2nd time that India will face Afghanistan in a Test. Their only previous meeting in the longest format was Afghanistan’s Test debut in 2018 which India won in two days by an innings and 262 runs.