Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra has added that Jasprit Bumrah’s unavailability for the Test series against Sri Lanka could be a huge opportunity for Auqib Nabi. He also added that Nabi should be the first option to replace Bumrah. However, India will play against Sri Lanka in two Tests, with the first game to be played in Galle from August 15 onwards. Bumrah was earlier added to the 15-member Indian squad subject to fitness clearance, but has been ruled out due to a knee injury as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “Auqib Nabi should be at the top of the list. He has more than 100 First-class wickets in the last two years. He had 60 First-class wickets last season. He was left out, but this might be a godsent opportunity. Forget the IPL because he has performed well with the red ball, and this is a red-ball tour. I think Auqib Nabi should be an automatic choice.”

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“When I think about a second name, I remember Anshul Kamboj. He made his debut on the England tour. He has played only one match to date, but he has been consistent. If you see his First-class numbers, you will say he is very good. You should consider AK-47 because he has form and rhythm and has First-class wickets to his name. So he is the second candidate. One of these two – Auqib Nabi No. 1, Anshul Kamboj No. 2,” he shared again.

However, Aakash Chopra further added that very few Indian seamers have proved their credentials in First-class cricket lately as well.

“I checked the red-ball numbers, and I am slightly surprised and troubled. The pool is really small. In the 2025-26 season, only two fast bowlers were in the top 10 list – Auqib Nabi with 60 wickets and Mohammad Shami with 37 wickets. If we see the year before that, there were three. Auqib Nabi is one of them in that as well. He is at No. 1 with 44 wickets, and then Manishankar Murasingh and Shardul Thakur with 35 wickets apiece,” he said.

“Are you looking towards Shardul for Tests? Are you seeing a Test call-up for Murasingh? No. So, logically, you are seeing only Auqib Nabi in the previous two years, and Mohammad Shami, if you want to go in his direction. Then, if we go to 2023-24, Gaurav Yadav with 41 wickets, Vijaykumar Vyshak with 39 wickets, and Deepak Dhapula with 38 wickets. If you go before that (2022-23), you see two known bowlers – Akash Deep and Avesh Khan. After that (2021-22), Gaurav Yadav features once again, but only with 23 wickets, and then Ravi Teja, Mukesh Kumar, and Baltej Singh. Where are the bowlers?” Aakash Chopra concluded.