SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has been selected in the India A squad for the red-ball fixtures on the upcoming New Zealand tour, adding another milestone to his rapid rise in Indian cricket.
The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) welcomed Nabi’s selection, calling it a proud moment for J&K cricket and extending its best wishes to the pacer for the tour.
Dhruv Jurel has been named captain and wicket-keeper of the India A side, which includes senior international players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep.
The squad comprises batters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, Yash Rathod and Ravichandran Smaran; wicket-keepers Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul; all-rounders Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar; and bowlers Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi and Mukesh Choudhary.
Nabi’s inclusion comes after a highly successful domestic campaign and recent exposure at international level. He previously represented India A during the tour of Sri Lanka, taking six wickets in two first-class matches.
The fast bowler played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2025–26 season. He finished the tournament as its leading wicket-taker with 60 wickets and has taken 104 wickets across the last two domestic seasons.
Nabi was subsequently handed his maiden senior India Test call-up as a replacement for injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah during the Sri Lanka tour. On September 30, 2026, he made his international debut for India in an ODI against the West Indies.
His career has also included stints in the IPL and English county cricket. Nabi holds an Rs 8.40 crore contract with Delhi Capitals and recently represented Surrey in the English County Championship.
The India A selection gives Nabi another opportunity to gain experience in multi-day cricket in New Zealand as he continues his progression following his breakthrough season for J&K.
