Auqib Nabi says he expected India call-up ahead of Sri Lanka Test series

On August 13, 2026 in Galle, Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi said he had expected an India call-up after being drafted into the Indian squad as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka beginning in Galle on Saturday, August 15.

Nabi spoke about his long wait for a maiden Test selection and his approach to earning one in a video shared by the BCCI with fellow uncapped player Saransh Jain. Nabi, who played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy title triumph last season, said performance and patience were central to his mindset: "Yes, I had expectations. But the mindset of a cricket player should be of performing and that the other people are watching," he told Saransh Jain.

Reflecting on his selection, Nabi said he had confidence that sustained performances would yield results: "I knew that I would get the call-up today or tomorrow because when you are doing well for so many years, you are meant to get the returns from the hard work." He added, "So I would bowl with the mindset that my job is to take wickets and perform and the rest is up to the one above. I felt great when my name came up. My family is very happy and I don't think there can be anything greater than this."

Saransh Jain, introduced in the same BCCI video as a fellow uncapped player, recounted his own journey and referenced his role in Madhya Pradesh's Ranji Trophy win in 2021-2022 that beat Mumbai in the final. The 33-year-old said patience was vital for Test cricket: “You have to have patience in Test cricket and if you want to play Test cricket for India, you have to have patience in that too,” he said, adding that his Ranji debut came in 2014-15 and that family support had been important: “I made my debut at Ranji Trophy in 2014-15. It's been a long journey. There was a lot of hard work and sacrifices. But I had the belief that one day, I will definitely play for India and for this achievement my family has a big role to play in it.”

Both players described how they learned of their selections. Saransh said: "When I got the call, I was driving to the temple. I saw the call and messages in between. That's when I got to know that I was selected." Nabi detailed the moment he was told, saying, “I was at the airport. We had to go to a camp in CoE and I was about to board a flight to Bangalore.” He continued, “I got a call asking where I was. I told them that I was going to Bangalore and I was at the airport. They told me that I didn't have to go there; I had to come to Sri Lanka and that I was selected.” “At first, I couldn't believe it. It was unexpected because the squad was already out. I was ready to work hard. I was going to the camp,” Nabi added.

On integrating with the squad, Saransh said his domestic experience eased the transition: “When I joined the team, I didn't feel any big difference as 70-80% of the players I have played cricket with, and I got mixed up quickly with them,” he said.

Nabi will join the India squad as Jasprit Bumrah's replacement for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting in Galle on August 15, and both players discussed their call-ups in the BCCI-shared video.