Auqib Nabi joins Team India camp ahead of one-off Test against Afghanistan

Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has joined Team India camp days ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan which is scheduled to start on June 6 in Mullanpur. Reportedly, Nabi has joined the Test squad as a backup player. He hasn't been officially added to the Test squad but he is with the Shubman Gill-led side with an eye of his potential inclusion for future tours.

Nabi was the leading wicket-taker in Jammu & Kashmir’s maiden Ranji Trophy title win. When India’s Test squad was announced, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee faced criticism for not giving Nabi his maiden Test call-up. Instead, Gurnoor Brar was called up in the absence of a rested Jasprit Bumrah.

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If Nabi hasn’t been added to the Test squad, he may be in the plans for future tours. While his inclusion for Sri Lanka tour may look unlikely, for New Zealand tour in October later this year, he might be in the reckoning given the pace-friendly conditions. 

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Nabi’s fantastic red-ball season, lacklustre IPL debut

Nabi played 10 first-class games in previous Ranji season, claiming 60 wickets at an average of 12.56, including seven five-wicket hauls. He became Delhi Capitals' (DC) most expensive at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. However, he couldn't do magic with the white-ball and remained wicketless in five games in debut IPL season.

India’s squad for one-off Test vs Afghanistan

Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vc), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (wk).