Former Indian selector Dilip Vengsarkar has slammed the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel over ignoring Auqib Nabi for the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan despite a tremendous performance in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season for Jammu and Kashmir. The former Indian cricketer has lashed out, claiming that domestic cricket must be scrapped if the performance at that level is not the criteria for selection.
Why was Auqib Nabi not selected in the Test squad for the one-off match against Afghanistan?
In what was a historic Ranji Trophy win for Jammu and Kashmir, Nabi emerged as their catalyst with 60 wickets in 17 innings at 12.56 and was on track for an India call-up. However, the selectors have instead picked Manav Suthar and Gurnoor Brar in the Test squad, leaving many surprised. Speaking to The Times of India, Vengsarkar, 70 said:
“The selectors’ decision to ignore him is absolutely absurd and baffling. What kind of selection is this? It is just not acceptable. It is injustice. Can you imagine Nabi’s plight right now? He took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. He has worked hard for it and deserves a place ahead of everybody else. If domestic cricket performances are not a criterion, then the BCCI should scrap domestic cricket. You pick a bowler for his ability to get wickets. He may bowl at 130 kmph, but the important thing is his wicket-taking ability. This kid has shown tremendous consistency in getting wickets.”
India squad: Shubman Gill (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-capt) Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.
Agarkar later justified Nabi’s snub, stating that the right-arm pacer was close but missed out eventually. The upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan will only be the second between the two sides, with the first one coming in 2018 as India won comfortably.
How has Auqib Nabi performed in the IPL?
The 29-year-old bagged his maiden IPL contract in IPL 2026 with the Delhi Capitals but is yet to take a wicket in his four appearances, failing to translate his red-ball performances into the shortest format.
The Capitals have also largely struggled this year despite a promising start to their tournament.
