Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer expressed his disappointment as Auqib Nabi got his maiden India call up, replacing an injured Jasprit Bumrah in the two-game Test series in Sri Lanka. Notably, Bumrah, who initially received a fitness clearance from BCCI CoE, was later sidelined for the series considering the persistent discomfort he felt in the knee, and clearly the medical team didn’t want to risk anything. As India received a significant blow in the name of Bumrah’s injury, the selectors went ahead with pacer Auqib Nabi and called him as the replacement of the talismanic bowler.
However, former India Test opener Wasim Jaffer didn’t seem to be pleased with the call-up. Jaffer slammed the Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar and Team India Head Coach Gautam Gambhir for picking up the J&K pacer as a replacement. Instead, Jaffer believes that Nabi deserved a direct call-up rather than being picked as a replacement. "It is a big thing and a very happy moment. And you are absolutely right that after performing so well, he probably should not have come in as a replacement in the first place," Jaffer said as he spoke on YouTube Channel.
Better Late than Never: Wasim Jaffer Reveals He’s Glad Nabi Finally Got a Call-Up
However, the cricketer-turned-broadcaster went on to say that he is glad that the pacer finally got a call-up. "But better late than never. I am very happy for him because he deserves to be in the initial squad," he stated. Notably, Nabi has picked 162 wickets in 43 FC games and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season with 44 wickets in eight games.
In addition to it, he was also the highest wicket-taker in the year 2025 with 60 wickets in just 10 games. Needless to say, his heroics played a crucial role in guiding the Jammu & Kashmir team to win their maiden Ranji Trophy title. Following a remarkable domestic season, the 29-year-old bagged a staggering IPL contract worth INR 8.4 crore and joined the Delhi Capitals.
