'What is the selection committee thinking?' - Aakash Chopra left baffled by Auqib Nabi's omission from India's Test squad

Published - 20 May 2026, 13:32 IST | Updated - 20 May 2026, 13:39 IST

Former India batter Aakash Chopra was left bewildered by the Indian selectors’ decision to leave our Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi Capitals star Auqib Nabi from the Test squad for the upcoming one-off game against Afghanistan.

India announced their 15-member squad on Tuesday, 19 May, which saw both Manav Suthar and Gurnoor Brar get their maiden international call-ups. However, the list did not include the current Ranji Trophy winner and the tournament’s highest wicket-taker in Auqib Nabi.

Chopra, however, does not take anything away from Brar. The Punjab pace bowler has taken 52 wickets in his First-Class career at an average of 27.30. But the exclusion of the Jammu & Kashmir bowler is still confusing. The former player-turned-pundit stated that Brar offers more pace and bounce than Auqib Nabi, with the 29-year-old in with a chance to directly play against New Zealand.

"Gurnoor Brar's name is there. Gurnoor Brar is a fast bowler, and he also bats a little. He plays for Punjab. He has taken 52 wickets and has bowled close to 400 overs in First-class cricket. So, performance in First-class cricket has been rewarded there, and he has been kept in the team," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"However, one thing is that Auqib Nabi isn't there. No one has taken more wickets than Auqib Nabi in the last little while. So what is the selection committee thinking? Will they play him straightaway against New Zealand? That's a possibility, or else, are they thinking they need extra pace and bounce, as Auqib probably does not have as much pace and bounce as Gurnoor Brar?" Chopra added.

Auqib Nabi took 60 wickets from 10 matches in the Ranji Trophy at an average of 12.56 to help Jammu & Kashmir win their maiden First-Class title. This included taking a five-wicket haul against Karnataka in the final.

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At the time of writing, Auqib Nabi is representing the Delhi Capitals in the 2026 Indian Premier League. The fast bowler, however, has played four games this season and is yet to take a single wicket.