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BCCI appoints Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi as replacement for Jasprit Bumrah in World Test Championship 2027 cycle series
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday named Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi as Jasprit Bumrah's replacement for India's two-Test World Test Championship (WTC) assignment against Sri Lanka, beginning on August 15 in Galle. The move comes after Bumrah was ruled out because of an incomplete recovery from a left knee injury, earning the 29-year-old his maiden senior India Test call-up.
The BCCI confirmed that Bumrah failed to receive mandatory medical fitness clearance after sustaining the injury during the ODI series against England. Medical assessments reportedly found that the impact sustained during the Cardiff ODI aggravated an underlying knee problem that had persisted since the ICC T20 World Cup.
Although Bumrah recovered sufficiently to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the latest setback prompted the BCCI medical team, selectors and team management to prioritise his long-term fitness rather than rush him back into international cricket. His absence is a major setback for captain Shubman Gill ahead of a series that India must perform well in to keep its World Test Championship qualification hopes alive.
India are currently fifth in the World Test Championship standings, making the two-Test series against Sri Lanka one of the team's most important assignments of the cycle. Another disappointing result could significantly dent India's chances of reaching the WTC Final.
The Indian pace attack has also been weakened by the absence of Harshit Rana, Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who are unavailable because of injuries. Bumrah's absence places greater responsibility on Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and the remaining fast bowlers. Widely regarded as India's premier fast bowler across formats, Bumrah's ability to generate pace, reverse swing, seam movement and relentless accuracy has been central to India's success, especially in overseas Test cricket.
For Auqib Nabi, the call-up ends months of disappointment after repeatedly missing national selection despite outstanding domestic performances. The Baramulla-born right-arm fast bowler had narrowly missed selection for previous Test assignments despite dominating India's domestic red-ball circuit over the past two seasons.
His consistency has finally earned the confidence of the selectors following Bumrah's withdrawal. Nabi has emerged as one of India's leading domestic fast bowlers after claiming 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, including an outstanding 60 wickets in just 10 matches during the 2025-26 campaign. He finished as the season's highest wicket-taker and established himself among the country's most successful fast bowlers in recent Ranji Trophy history. Across the last two seasons, he also registered 13 five-wicket hauls, underlining his consistency and match-winning ability in first-class cricket.
Nabi played a decisive role in helping Jammu and Kashmir lift their maiden Ranji Trophy title earlier this year. He produced match-winning spells against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final, Bengal in the semi-final and Karnataka in the final, proving his ability to deliver under pressure in knockout matches.
The fast bowler also impressed during India A's recent tour of Sri Lanka, taking six wickets in two first-class matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle. His familiarity with local conditions is expected to be an added advantage if he is included in India's playing XI during the Test series.
Nabi is known for his ability to swing the new ball in both directions, maintain disciplined line and length, extract seam movement and contribute useful runs in the lower order. Those qualities have strengthened his credentials as a potential long-term option for India's red-ball setup.
Earlier this year, Nabi was overlooked for the one-off Test despite his exceptional Ranji Trophy campaign, with selectors opting for Gurnoor Brar as the reserve pacer. Following criticism over that decision, he was invited to join the Indian squad as a net bowler during the training camp in Mohali. He continued to impress during the India A series before finally earning his breakthrough opportunity following Bumrah's injury.
Cricket experts believe Nabi's selection could have significance beyond the Sri Lanka series. India are scheduled to tour New Zealand later this year before hosting Australia in another crucial World Test Championship assignment. With Bumrah's recurring fitness concerns becoming an important workload management issue, the team management will closely assess whether Nabi can establish himself as a dependable long-term option in India's pace attack.
Nabi's selection is another significant milestone for cricket in Jammu and Kashmir. He joins a small group of cricketers from the Union Territory to represent India at the senior level. His rise reflects the growing strength of cricket infrastructure, talent identification and player development in the region.
India's updated squad for the Sri Lanka Test series includes Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi. The two-Test series begins on August 15 in Galle, with India aiming to revive its World Test Championship campaign despite the loss of its premier fast bowler.
