Auqib Nabi picked 60 wickets in previous Ranji Trophy tournament for J&K.
Despite Auqib Nabi's stellar domestic performances over the previous two seasons, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has questioned the selectors' decision to leave him out of India's squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, calling the exclusion "ridiculous."
After taking Jammu and Kashmir to their first Ranji Trophy victory in 2025–2026, Manjrekar expressed shock that Nabi had not been selected for the national team.
The young pace bowler won Player of the Tournament after taking 60 wickets at a remarkable average of 12.65, making him the tournament's leading wicket-taker.
Many expected Auqib Nabi to get his maiden India call-up for the Afghanistan Test, with Jasprit Bumrah rested. However, the BCCI selection panel went for Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnoor Brar, picked in the pace unit.
“I used to like the olden days when tremendous injustice was done. People would come out on the streets with placards and protests. Now the outcry is mostly on social media, but this is one non-selection that I just can’t understand,” Manjrekar said on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.
“It’s actually ridiculous. When Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are not playing, whether because they are being rested or for long-term planning, then the Ranji Trophy serves no purpose if performances like these are going to be ignored,” he added.
Auqib Nabi has taken 104 wickets in the last two Ranji Trophy seasons. Manjrekar emphasized the importance of Jammu and Kashmir's championship campaign and attributed their triumph to Nabi.
“It was an incredible story for Indian cricket, Jammu and Kashmir winning the Ranji Trophy, and Auqib Nabi was the guy who almost single-handedly got them to the title. He expressed his disappointment by stating, "It was a clear decision, and, unfortunately, he is not present."
He also picked 15 wickets in 7 matches during the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and was picked by Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026 for INR 8.40 crore.
“But the decision is beyond me. It’s not a beneficial cricketing decision because when you compare his record with some of the others in the squad, tremendous injustice has been done," Manjrekar added.