Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer has questioned the selectors for ignoring Auqib Nabi Dar for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Despite having a splendid run in the Ranji Trophy in the previous season, the fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir was also excluded from the one-off Test match against Afghanistan.

The fast bowler led his team to glory for the first time in the domestic tournament’s history. Nabi scalped 60 wickets in 10 matches of the 2025-26 season at a stunning average of 12.57, including seven five-wicket hauls.

“Maybe one reason is that we get excited by bowlers who consistently clock 140 kph. Auqib Nabi doesn’t bowl at that pace. He bowls around 135 kph, but that’s still good enough. If you look at the Ranji Trophy final, Prasidh Krishna and Auqib Nabi were playing together, and Auqib Nabi actually outperformed Prasidh Krishna. I’m not saying Prasidh isn’t a very good bowler, but if you compare them side by side, Auqib has outperformed a lot of other bowlers,” Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube Channel.

Jaffer reckons Nabi deserved to be part of India’s 15-man squad, if not the playing XI for the upcoming Test series.

“There isn’t as much discussion around Auqib Nabi as there was during the Afghanistan series. I hope he gets his chance because I believe he deserves to be in the Indian team. And Auqib Nabi, if a player takes 100 wickets across two domestic seasons, even if you don’t include him in the playing XI, he certainly deserves a place in the 15-member squad. So, I really feel for him.”

Meanwhile, Jaffer reckons the fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir hasn’t been picked for the Sri Lanka Test because of flatter decks in the Island nation.

“I also feel that if Auqib Nabi isn’t selected for the New Zealand series, it would be very unfair. I can understand the thinking behind not picking him for Sri Lanka because the pitches might be flatter and the subcontinent conditions are different.

However, Jaffer believes the importance of Ranji Trophy performance will diminish if Nabi is not picked for the New Zealand tour.

“But if he isn’t selected for the New Zealand tour either, then I think talking about the importance of Ranji Trophy performances will become meaningless. It will all just remain talk about how players should perform well in Ranji Trophy and first-class cricket. Right now, I don’t think anyone could have done more than this youngster has. If he still isn’t selected for the New Zealand series, then I think we should seriously question whether it’s even worth telling young players to prioritize Ranji Trophy cricket or take it so seriously,” he added.

The first Test match between India and Sri Lanka will be played at Galle from August 15 onwards.