New Delhi, August 3: Akib Nabi has received his first call-up to the Indian cricket team following Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The series, starting on August 15, presents Akib with a golden opportunity to showcase his skills on the international stage.
In the last two seasons of the Ranji Trophy, Akib has taken 104 wickets. This season alone, he claimed 60 wickets, playing a crucial role in leading Jammu and Kashmir to their first Ranji Championship title. His consistent performance in domestic cricket has long fueled calls for his inclusion in the national team. Following Parvez Rasool and Umran Malik, Akib becomes the third player from Jammu and Kashmir to represent India. The news of his selection has sparked joy across the region.
Nabi is the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected for the Indian Test team. Following the appearances of Rasool and Malik in white-ball matches for India, his inclusion is seen as a significant milestone for aspiring cricketers from the state.
Sunil Kumar, a left-arm fast bowler who has played alongside Nabi in domestic cricket, expressed his happiness upon hearing the news in their WhatsApp group. In a special conversation, he stated, “I am very happy for him because he is a humble person. He works very hard.”
Sunil added, “Today, he has reaped the rewards of his hard work, which he truly deserves. I spoke to him when he was with the India ‘A’ team in Sri Lanka. It was just a casual conversation, and I congratulated him.”
He views Nabi’s selection as a pivotal moment for cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir who dream of playing for the country. “This is the first time a player from our state has reached the Test team. We often discussed who would break the barrier to the national Test team, and Akib’s name always came up first. Now we can see that he has achieved this. This will boost everyone’s morale here, as the door that has been closed for so long is now open. More players and talent from Jammu and Kashmir can emerge and achieve their ultimate goals.”
While the scrutiny at the highest level is intense, Sunil is confident that Nabi’s character will be his greatest strength when he makes his Test debut in Sri Lanka. “Akib will do well. There is no doubt about it because he is mentally very strong. He knows that no matter how tough the conditions or situations are, it doesn’t affect him. He understands that to dismiss batsmen, he needs to bowl well in the right areas. He has the courage and ability, and he knows he can perform at the Test level. Mentally, he is very strong.”
Muzaffar Mattu, a BCCI-qualified coach and head coach of the under-16 team that won the Vijay Merchant Trophy Plate Group in the 2025/26 season, believes Akib’s journey from a local club cricketer to the Indian Test team is the greatest reward for years of hard work.
He remarked, “This is a great moment for all of us and for the entire Jammu and Kashmir. We are very happy that Akib has been called up to Team India, and we hope he performs as he did in the Ranji Trophy. It’s never too late to be selected for the team, and we expect him to maintain that form in Sri Lanka. The selectors felt it was the right time for him. That’s why we are all excited and hopeful that everything goes well for Akib.”
Mattu reminisced about Akib’s early days, saying, “It was in 2010 when I selected him; he was playing in his backyard. He played for my club. Later, during the under-19 and under-23 days, I coached him. We went to his backyard, saw him, and brought him to our club. From there, he got opportunities and necessary experience. He played club cricket and later represented the state. He had that talent from the start. I spoke to him just yesterday.”
Mattu continued, “I told him, ‘I hope you get a call from Team India,’ and now he has received it. After winning the Vijay Merchant Trophy, we won the Ranji Trophy, and now Akib has been selected for the Indian Test team. Cricket is thriving in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Before joining Team India, Sunil Kumar advised Akib to trust the process that brought him to the Test team. He concluded, “I would tell him to keep doing what he has been doing. It’s simple; he just needs to continue what he has been doing. There’s no need to do anything new, and we know he will do just that.”
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