The debate surrounding India’s squad selection for the one-off Test against Afghanistan continues to intensify, with several former cricketers questioning the omission of Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi despite his outstanding domestic performances over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons. Nabi has emerged as one of the most consistent fast bowlers in Indian domestic cricket, playing a crucial role in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy triumph earlier this year.

The right-arm pacer finished as the leading wicket-taker last season and has claimed a remarkable 104 wickets across the last two Ranji Trophy campaigns combined. Given those numbers, many expected the selectors to reward him with a maiden India call-up. However, the selection committee instead opted for uncapped Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar as backup to Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna for the Afghanistan Test.

Former India cricketer and ex-selector Dodda Ganesh strongly criticised the decision, arguing that Nabi’s omission sends the wrong message to young domestic players who consistently perform in the Ranji Trophy. “No amount of justification can convince me of the non-selection of Auqib Nabi,” Ganesh wrote on X.

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“Poor guy bowled his heart out for two seasons and picked more than 100 Ranji Trophy wickets only to be ignored for someone who had played just two games this season,” he added.

Ganesh also dismissed the reasoning provided by the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, who explained that the team management preferred a specific type of fast bowler for the conditions.

No amount of justification can convince me of the non-selection of Aquib Nabi. Poor guy bowled his heart out for two seasons and picked 100+ #RanjiTrophy wickets only to be ignored for someone who had played just 2 games this season.

Please stop this nonsensical justifications:…

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) May 22, 2026

“Please stop these nonsensical justifications like hit-the-deck bowler or hit-the-head bowler. While those skill sets are important, they should not be rewarded over sustained performances in domestic cricket,” Dodda Ganesh stated.

According to the former India selector, overlooking a player with such exceptional numbers risks discouraging youngsters who continue to prioritise red-ball cricket and domestic tournaments. Ajit Agarkar, meanwhile, admitted that Nabi’s name was seriously discussed during the selection meeting. The chief selector acknowledged the pacer’s excellent performances but explained that India generally do not carry a large group of seamers for home Tests.

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“Someone who has done well not just this season but also last season was obviously discussed. He was very close,” Ajit Agarkar said. “But at this point, we have gone with the three seamers we picked. There is no doubt he has produced incredible performances for Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

Despite the disappointment, Nabi’s impressive domestic record has firmly established him as one of the strongest contenders for future India selection.