Auqib Nabi’s Tunnel Vision to India Call-Up: The Journey of Baramulla Boy Through Chronicles

For years, Auqib Nabi Dar has spoken of a single, unwavering goal. And it finally seems that his dream will come true.

Auqib Nabi has been called up to the India squad for the upcoming Sri Lanka Tests, replacing an injured Jasprit Bumrah.

MyKhel understands the Jammu and Kashmir bowler will take the flight to Colombo for the series, where he recently played for India A and did exceedingly well.

It has been a journey none but topsy-turvy for Auqib. In the early days at Baramulla, Auqib rose through the ranks but came to the national fold with a late bloom in his journey.

In recent years, things have mostly been upward, but the elusive India call-up was escaping Auqib. Despite performing with the red ball, the Baramulla-born was denied a Test call-up, much to the surprise of many. But it’s of the past now.

The Rise of Auqib Nabi – What We Saw First Hand

In exclusive conversations with MyKhel, the soft-spoken right-arm medium pacer from Sheeri in Baramulla has repeated a simple mantra: keep a goal in mind, work hard for it, give every iota, stay loyal to the effort, and never cheat on the grind.

That tunnel vision has finally delivered. With Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of India’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to a lingering left-knee issue, Auqib Nabi stands as the leading replacement and is set for his maiden senior India call-up. The series begins in Galle on August 15. After seasons of consistent domestic excellence that went largely unrewarded at the highest level, the Baramulla boy has earned his shot in the India whites.

During the very first interview, Auqib, on a misty morning in December 2024 in a Navi Mumbai hotel lobby during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the player was down. The IPL 2025 mega auction had just concluded. His name was not even mentioned. He was the leading wicket-taker among pacers in that Ranji season, yet the disappointment was raw.

“Honestly, it feels disappointing… I’ve been performing consistently… It’s disheartening when such performances go unnoticed,” he said then after his name didn’t come up.

The hoodie stayed on, the voice stayed quiet, but the resolve never wavered. By September 2025, the weather in Kashmir-and in his career-had shifted. Representing North Zone in the Duleep Trophy, Auqib produced magic: four wickets in four balls against East Zone, part of a five-wicket haul. He also chipped in with a quickfire 44 off 33 balls. Speaking exclusively afterwards, the soft-spoken star was characteristically grounded.

Auqib always had the India Dream

“I was confident that I would do well. So it happened. As they say, if you think well, you will do well… I bowled just in good channels,” he said to us at that time, when the world first recognized Auqib.

He spoke of working on his batting to become a genuine all-rounder and of the India dream that never left him. “I always have the India dream.”

The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season turned that dream into something tangible. Auqib finished as the highest wicket-taker with 60 wickets at an average around 12.65, including multiple five-wicket hauls and a career-best 7/24. He starred in the quarter-final (12 wickets against Madhya Pradesh), the semi-final (nine against Bengal, plus useful runs), and the final against Karnataka as Jammu & Kashmir claimed their maiden title.

He was Player of the Tournament. In another chat in Kalyani, hours after the semi-final triumph, the same shy young man from Baramulla now carried the weight of national recognition and a ₹8.40 crore Delhi Capitals deal from the IPL 2026 auction.

“I have a tunnel vision, which is to play for India and win a Test Cap. And I will keep working for it,” he told MyKhel in February 2026, just after Jammu & Kashmir had scripted history by reaching their first Ranji Trophy final.

A few days after, Auqib was instrumental as J&K won the historic Ranji Trophy. “It was a dream since we started playing first-class cricket. To take the team to the finals of Ranji Trophy,” he said after leading his team to their first Ranji win.

India A selection followed in June 2026 for the multi-day tour of Sri Lanka. He took six wickets across the two games. Net sessions with the senior side before the Afghanistan Test offered another glimpse.

Yet when the senior squad for these Sri Lanka Tests was named, Auqib was again overlooked, prompting pointed questions from mentors like Irfan Pathan about the logic of ignoring such consistent red-ball returns. Bumrah’s injury has now forced the issue.

India’s pace cupboard is thin: Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar form the core, with others sidelined. Auqib’s ability to swing the ball both ways, hit the right lengths, contribute lower-order runs, and handle the workload makes him the natural fit.

From the quiet determination after the IPL snub, through the Duleep four-in-four, the historic Ranji charge, the IPL payday, India A, and the patient wait, Auqib Nabi has never changed his approach. He kept things simple – good channels, stronger wrist position and hitting the length.

“If it happens, great. If not, I’ll work hard again,” Auqib told when asked about India selection. Well, it has happened for Baramulla’s Dale Steyn.

The Test cap he has chased with tunnel vision is finally within reach. The boy from Baramulla who has fought through obstacles, will get a chance to live his dream. And nobody deserves it more than Auqib Nabi.