The Indian national selection committee recently unveiled the 15-member Test squad for the upcoming two-match series Sri Lanka Scheduled for August, which sparked widespread discussion in the cricket world. while experienced Madhya Pradesh off spinner Saransh Jain After years of consistent domestic success, Jammu and Kashmir’s star fast bowler has finally been included in the national team for the first time Auqib Nabi Once again I found myself unnecessarily marginalized. Nabi, who played a central role in leading his state team to a historic maiden Ranji Trophy win last season with 60 wickets, is waiting for his chance on the grand stage despite consistently performing well in the red-ball formats.
Irfan Pathan targets Indian team management over exclusion of top bowler from Ranji Trophy
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan PathanThose who have closely guided Nabi during his formative cricket years expressed deep disappointment about the unpredictable criteria of the selection committee. Speaking candidly about the decision, Pathan expressed genuine disbelief at how a bowler of Nabi’s caliber was repeatedly overlooked despite setting benchmark domestic numbers.
Pathan hit out at the management’s squad rotation argument, highlighting the missed opportunities to integrate emerging pace talents at the national level. He questioned why primary fast bowlers were given more work in foreign countries?World Test Championship (WTC) fixtures while radical domestic artists were sidelined.
“Honestly, I don’t have any logical answer for why the prophet was not chosen.Pathan told Sportstar.
According to Pathan, when the primary strike bowler prefers Jasprit Bumrah Rested, like established fast bowlers Mohammad Siraj Heavy workload on shoulders. Matches outside the WTC cycle could serve as ideal testing grounds for emerging domestic performers like Nabi.
“I did not understand the selection process. Mohammad Siraj is your favorite bowler. When (Jasprit) Bumrah is not there, Siraj becomes your No. 1 bowler. So, what was the need to play against Afghanistan in a Test that was not even part of the World Test Championship? If domestic performance matters, why didn’t you reward Auqib? That was the best opportunity to play and test him at that level.“He said.
While praising Jain’s call-up at the age of 33 as a positive message for experienced domestic players, Pathan stressed that ignoring top fast bowlers sends a confusing, contradictory signal to the young fast bowlers who work tirelessly in the domestic circuit, especially considering how often fast bowlers require workload management and injury backup.
“What signal are we giving to domestic cricketers? It is great to see Saransh Jain selected on the basis of domestic performance. This tells domestic cricketers that performance will be rewarded. He is 33 years old and has been rewarded for four or five years of consistent performance. But then, what is Auqib’s fault? He has performed consistently well and has even more opportunities as a fast bowler as fast bowlers are often injured, so backup always helps.Pathan concluded.
Brilliant domestic figures fail to achieve success at national level
Nabi’s exit is a major blow after an extraordinary domestic campaign that has firmly established him among the most lethal fast bowlers in the country. His 60-wicket haul was the ultimate driving force behind Jammu and Kashmir’s fairy-tale title run. Carrying that pace forward, the fiery fast bowler earned a Indian Premier League contract with Delhi Capitals And he continued his fine form for India A on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, where he took six wickets in two four-day matches.
Despite proving his worth in various conditions and high-level competitive fixtures, the doors to the national team remain closed for the young fast bowler. For domestic candidates, the difference between rewarding Jain and ignoring Nabi leaves a serious question as to what else a fast bowler must achieve to clinch the elusive India cap. As the team prepares for the upcoming red-ball challenge, the selection management faces increasing scrutiny on its long-term strategy for building reliable fast-bowling depth.