Former India batsman and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has strongly criticized the omission of Auqib Nabi from India’s squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh from June 6, calling the decision “ridiculous” despite the pacer’s outstanding domestic record.
speaking on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast, Manjrekar said Nabi’s exclusion was difficult to justify, especially after the fast bowler’s match-winning performances over the last two Ranji Trophy seasons.
“I used to like the old days when tremendous injustice was done. People would come out on the streets with placards and protests,” Manjrekar said. “Now the outcry is mostly on social media, but this is one non-selection that I just can’t understand.”
Nabi was instrumental in Jammu and Kashmir winning its maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2025-26. The swing bowler finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 60 wickets in 17 innings at an average of 12.65 and was named Player of the Tournament. Across the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, he has claimed 104 wickets.
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“It’s actually ridiculous,” Manjrekar said. “When Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are not playing, whether because they are being rested or for long-term planning, then you might as well not have the Ranji Trophy if performances like these are going to be ignored.”
The former India batsman also highlighted the significance of Jammu and Kashmir’s title-winning campaign and Nabi’s central role in it. “It was an incredible story for Indian cricket, Jammu and Kashmir winning the Ranji Trophy, and this was the guy who almost single-handedly got them to the title,” he said. “It was a no-brainer, and it’s really sad that he isn’t there.”
While Nabi first emerged as a red-ball specialist, he has also improved rapidly in white-ball cricket, taking 15 wickets in seven matches during the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His rise was rewarded at the IPL auction, where Delhi Capitals signed him for Rs. 8.40 crore ahead of the 2026 season.
Manjrekar felt the selectors had ignored overwhelming evidence in Nabi’s favour. “I can understand if the seam-bowling spots were taken by Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj and Shami and Nabi couldn’t find a place,” he said. “But this is beyond me. It’s not a good cricketing decision because when you compare his record with some of the others in the squad, tremendous injustice has been done.”
Published on May 26, 2026
