Former Indian player Dilip Vengsarkar lashed out at the selectors and the team management for not valuing Ranji Trophy performances enough, citing Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi. He led the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy with 60 wickets at an incredible average of 12.56, including seven 5-wicket hauls, in 10 matches as well. Yet, despite earning a call-up in the Test squad for the recent Sri Lanka series as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement, he has not played a single game for India.

Vengsarkar said on Revportz: “If you feel that these domestic games are not criteria for selection to the Indian team, then scrap the Ranji Trophy. Don’t play the Ranji Trophy. Why do you want to play it? These players are working hard. They are winning matches. They are taking wickets. If they are not rewarded with an India cap, then it is a waste of time.”

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“There is another guy called Auqib Nabi, who did so well for Jammu and Kashmir. He almost single-handedly helped them win the Ranji Trophy. I think these players should be given an opportunity because he has taken more than 100 wickets in two seasons. That’s a hell of a lot of wickets,” he shared again.

Dilip Vengsarkar, however, believes veteran pacer Mohammed Shami should be in the Indian Test team for the upcoming two-match Test series in New Zealand as well. He has been in great red-ball form, finishing as the sixth leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 with 37 scalps at an average of under 17 as well.

“I don’t know why Shami has been sidelined, to be honest with you. He has done extremely well in domestic cricket as well as international cricket. He is a very good bowler, and he should be an integral part of the Indian team. Shami should be in the Test squad for the New Zealand series. I don’t know why he is out of the team,” concluded Vengsarkar.