India have been forced to make a major change to their Test squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah ruled out and Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi earning his maiden senior India call-up.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on August 3 that Bumrah has not fully recovered from a left knee injury he suffered during the ODI series against England. The 32-year-old pacer had initially been included in India’s Test squad subject to fitness clearance, but his recovery has not progressed enough for him to take part in the two-Test series.
Nabi, 29, has been named as Bumrah’s replacement. His selection caps a remarkable rise for the Jammu and Kashmir cricketer, who has emerged as one of India’s most successful domestic fast bowlers over the past two Ranji Trophy seasons.
Bumrah’s absence is a significant setback for India. He remains one of the most experienced and influential members of the Test bowling attack, and his ability to produce wickets in different conditions has made him a crucial part of India’s plans.
The injury dates back to the second ODI against England in Cardiff in July. Bumrah sustained an impact injury to his left knee while fielding and subsequently missed the third ODI at Lord’s. The BCCI had initially described the problem as reactive swelling. He later underwent rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, but continued discomfort meant that the medical team did not want to rush him back into competitive cricket.
With the Sri Lanka Tests approaching, Bumrah was given the opportunity to prove his fitness. However, he did not receive the clearance needed to continue with the squad. The decision is understood to have been taken with his longer-term fitness in mind.
For Nabi, meanwhile, the news represents the biggest moment of his career.
The right-arm pacer has been at the centre of Jammu and Kashmir’s historic rise in domestic cricket. He took 60 wickets in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker and playing a major role in J&K winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
His numbers over the last two seasons are even more impressive. Nabi has collected 104 Ranji Trophy wickets across the two campaigns, putting him among the most productive bowlers in India’s domestic red-ball system.
His recent form also extends beyond the Ranji Trophy. Nabi was part of the India A squad that toured Sri Lanka and took six wickets in two first-class matches. That experience of bowling in Sri Lankan conditions could prove useful if he is considered for the playing XI during the Test series.
Nabi’s journey has attracted attention because his rise has come through persistence in domestic cricket rather than a long international apprenticeship. His performances for Jammu and Kashmir have steadily pushed him into the national selection picture, and the Bumrah injury has now opened the door to his first India Test opportunity.
The call-up also marks an important moment for Jammu and Kashmir cricket. Nabi becomes the first cricketer from the region to be included in India’s senior Test squad, adding another chapter to J&K’s breakthrough 2025-26 Ranji Trophy campaign.
India’s updated Test squad for Sri Lanka is led by captain Shubman Gill, with KL Rahul as vice-captain. The squad includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Nabi. Sai Sudharsan’s participation remains subject to fitness clearance.
The two-Test series is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle. India will begin the series in Galle on August 15 before travelling to Colombo for the second Test from August 23.
The change leaves India with an interesting selection decision in the pace department. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar are among the other fast-bowling options, while Nabi now provides another option after his outstanding domestic season.
Whether Nabi makes his Test debut immediately remains uncertain. His selection does not automatically guarantee a place in the playing XI. The team management could choose experience in the opening Test, particularly with Siraj and Prasidh already familiar with international cricket.
But Nabi’s numbers make his selection difficult to ignore. Sixty wickets in a single Ranji Trophy season and 104 across two seasons are strong evidence of his consistency with the red ball. His ability to contribute in Sri Lankan conditions could further strengthen his case.
For India, the immediate priority will be managing Bumrah’s injury without taking unnecessary risks. For Nabi, the challenge is very different: he now has the chance to turn a remarkable domestic season into an international breakthrough.
The spotlight that once belonged entirely to Bumrah has suddenly shifted to an uncapped fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir. And for Auqib Nabi, a long-awaited India call-up has arrived at a moment when the national team needs him most.
