Indian cricket team's squad for the upcoming Afghanistan series has sparked fresh debate among fans and experts, with the omission of Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi becoming one of the biggest talking points.
Despite enjoying a sensational domestic season and playing a crucial role in Jammu and Kashmir's historic Ranji Trophy triumph, Nabi failed to secure a place in India's squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan.
His exclusion has now drawn criticism from domestic cricket veteran Siddhesh Lad, who questioned the selection philosophy of the Ajit Agarkar-led committee and accused it of placing excessive importance on IPL performances.
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Siddhesh Lad questions selectors over Auqib Nabi's omission
Auqib Nabi was one of the standout performers in the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season, finishing with an impressive tally of 60 wickets in just 10 matches.
The pacer played a vital role in helping Jammu and Kashmir clinch the Ranji Trophy title and emerged as one of the most consistent performers in India's premier domestic competition.
However, a relatively underwhelming IPL 2026 campaign with Delhi Capitals seemingly worked against him when the national squad was announced.
Speaking to The Times of India, Siddhesh Lad expressed disappointment with the selectors' approach and said it sends the wrong message to players grinding hard in domestic cricket.
"You are sending a wrong message to the domestic cricketers, that even if you do well in Ranji Trophy, it doesn't make any difference to your cricketing career, but if you do well in a few games in the IPL, you can make it to India's Test team."
Lad further stated that players are constantly told that domestic performances remain the primary pathway to representing India, but the final selections often tell a different story.
Lad believes IPL has become a shortcut to Team India selection
The former Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders player also used Nabi's omission to support his argument that IPL performances are increasingly becoming the benchmark for national selection.
According to Lad, domestic cricket achievements are not receiving the recognition they deserve despite players consistently delivering strong performances across a long season.
He pointed out that winning a Ranji Trophy and taking 60 wickets is a remarkable achievement and should have strengthened Nabi's case for a national call-up.
Lad said:
"The harsh reality is that domestic cricket performances are ignored by the national selectors. The Ranji Trophy has been devalued."
He added that Nabi deserved serious consideration for the Afghanistan Test squad based on his domestic record and contribution to Jammu and Kashmir's title-winning campaign.
Lad further claimed that players who fail to make an impact in the IPL now find it increasingly difficult to break into the Indian Test setup, regardless of their performances in domestic cricket.
India are scheduled to face Afghanistan in a one-off Test followed by a three-match ODI series, beginning on June 6.