‘It might be a godsent opportunity’

Aakash Chopra said that Jasprit Bumrah failing to recover for the Test series in Sri Lanka has opened the door in a divine manner for Auqib Nabi to impress in international cricket. The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler has replaced Bumrah in India’s squad for the two-match Test series against Dhananjaya and Co.

Nabi finished as the highest wicket-taker last year in the Ranji Trophy, backing up his phenomenal performance in the preceding season of the red-ball tournament. The right-arm seamer was picked by the Delhi Capitals at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. However, he failed to impress in this year’s IPL.

Chopra, however, hailed Nabi’s excellent numbers in red-ball cricket and chose to ignore his underwhelming exploits in the cash-rich league.

“Auqib Nabi should be at the top of the list. He has more than 100 First-class wickets in the last two years. He had 60 First-class wickets last season. He was left out, but this might be a godsent opportunity. Forget the IPL because he has performed well with the red ball, and this is a red-ball tour. I think Auqib Nabi should be an automatic choice,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

Chopra added that if there is one more seamer who deserves a chance in India’s red-ball squad, apart from Nabi, it is Anshul Kamboj. The Chennai Super Kings’ pacer made his international debut last year when India toured England for a five-match Test series against the Three Lions. He played just one match on the tour.

“When I think about a second name, I remember Anshul Kamboj. He made his debut on the England tour. He has played only one match to date, but he has been consistent. If you see his First-class numbers, you will say he is very good. You should consider AK-47 because he has form and rhythm and has First-class wickets to his name. So he is the second candidate. One of these two – Auqib Nabi No. 1, Anshul Kamboj No. 2,” he observed.

“I am slightly surprised and troubled” – Aakash Chopra on Indian seamers’ recent First-class numbers

Chopra went on to mention that only a handful of seamers have made notable contribution with the ball in domestic red-ball cricket in recent times. 

“I checked the red-ball numbers, and I am slightly surprised and troubled. The pool is really small. In the 2025-26 season, only two fast bowlers were in the top 10 list – Auqib Nabi with 60 wickets and Mohammad Shami with 37 wickets. If we see the year before that, there were three. Auqib Nabi is one of them in that as well. He is at No. 1 with 44 wickets, and then Manishankar Murasingh and Shardul Thakur with 35 wickets apiece,” he said.

Chopra stated that if the last two seasons of the Ranji Trophy are considered, Nabi and Mohammed Shami are two bowlers who have stood out more than others.

“Are you looking towards Shardul for Tests? Are you seeing a Test call-up for Murasingh? No. So, logically, you are seeing only Auqib Nabi in the previous two years, and Mohammad Shami, if you want to go in his direction. Then, if we go to 2023-24, Gaurav Yadav with 41 wickets, Vijaykumar Vyshak with 39 wickets, and Deepak Dhapula with 38 wickets,” Chopra observed.

Chopra noted that very few fast bowlers have featured in the top 10 list of wicket-takers in the last five domestic seasons.

“If you go before that (2022-23), you see two known bowlers – Akash Deep and Avesh Khan. After that (2021-22), Gaurav Yadav features once again, but only with 23 wickets, and then Ravi Teja, Mukesh Kumar, and Baltej Singh. Where are the bowlers?” he noted.

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