Dilip Vengsarkar Furious After Ranji Star Auqib Nabi Misses India Call-Up

Dilip Vengsarkar criticised India selectors after Ranji Trophy star Auqib Nabi missed the squad for the Afghanistan Test.

Dilip Vengsarkar strongly criticised India’s selectors after Auqib Nabi missed out on the squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan national cricket team next month.

The former India captain called the decision “absurd” and questioned the value of domestic cricket if performers continue to be ignored. Nabi enjoyed an outstanding Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 60 wickets and playing a major role in Jammu and Kashmir’s maiden Ranji Trophy win.

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Vengsarkar said the 29-year-old deserved an immediate India opportunity because of his consistency and wicket-taking ability.

“The selector’s decision to ignore him is absolutely absurd and baffling. What kind of selection is this? It is not acceptable. It is injustice. Can you imagine Nabi’s plight right now? He took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. He has worked hard for it and deserves a place ahead of everyone else. If domestic cricket performances are not a criterion, then the BCCI should scrap domestic cricket,” Vengsarkar told Times of India.

“You pick a bowler for his ability to get wickets. He may bowl at 130 kmph, but the important thing is his wicket-taking ability. This kid has shown tremendous consistency in getting wickets. This was the ideal time to groom him when a player is in form, you give him the opportunity then and there. You don’t wait until he loses confidence, fitness or hunger,” he added.

Earlier this year, several former cricketers backed Nabi for an India debut after his outstanding Ranji Trophy season. Sourav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan publicly supported Nani following his 60-wicket domestic campaign.

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Notably, Auqib Nabi’s disappointing IPL 2026 campaign may have influenced selectors. He has played 4 IPL matches this season but remains without a wicket while conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.45. His only notable outing came in Dharamsala, where conditions favoured bowlers.