'No excuses if you want to play for India': The philosophy that shaped Auqib Nabi
On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi replaced injured Jasprit Bumrah in the India squad for the upcoming two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka. With his maiden call-up to the senior national team, he became the first player from the valley to get selected in India's Test squad. The J&K seamer's rise is driven by a simple philosophy: if you want to play for India, excuses are not an option.
NEW DELHI: Auqib Nabi, a fast bowler from Baramulla, faced numerous challenges on his path to representing India. Initially, he lacked essential equipment for his U-19 trials, borrowing spikes from a friend during his debut match. Subsequently, when his friend didn't make the squad, Nabi borrowed another pair and played the entire tournament.
Today, he has earned his place in the Indian Test squad, replacing injured Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Nabi, 29, has accumulated 104 wickets in the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, breaking selection barriers with his skills. Born into a family of government school teachers, cricket was an accidental passion for Nabi.
His cricket journey began with tennis-ball matches, transitioning to leather-ball cricket, which presented a new challenge. To practice on proper turf wickets, he had to travel one-and-a-half hours from Baramulla to Srinagar, a routine that became part of his life. Facing biomechanical issues, Nabi worked with bowling coach P. Krishnakumar to rectify them, resulting in improved performance.
His dedication to learning the inswing and focusing on bowling in good areas has been his biggest transformation. Nabi has also expressed his desire to open an academy in Baramulla, providing opportunities for young cricketers in his hometown. Despite a disappointing IPL debut, Nabi remains focused on his goal of shaping future talent in his community.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- From borrowing spikes to India call-up: Auqib Nabi replaces Bumrah in Test squad timesofindia.indiatimes.com
