Srinagar, Sept 30: Jammu and Kashmir pace-bowling all-rounder Auqib Nabi on Wednesday made his One-Day International debut for India, receiving his maiden India cap before taking the field against the West Indies in the second ODI at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
Nabi was handed his cap as India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first. He has been included in India’s playing XI in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Auqib’s debut comes after an outstanding 2025-26 domestic season in which he played a pivotal role in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic maiden Ranji Trophy triumph. The Baramulla born player finished the Ranji season as the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 60 wickets and was named Player of the Series. He produced a career-best match haul of 12 for 110 against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final and returned figures of five for 54 against Karnataka in the final.
Auqib also demonstrated his ability with the bat during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, smashing an unbeaten 114 off 82 balls against Hyderabad after coming in at No. 8 with Jammu and Kashmir.
His List A record had already established him as a proven performer in the 50-over format. Before his India debut, Auqib had taken 56 wickets in 36 List A matches for Jammu and Kashmir at an economy rate of around 5.2 runs per over.
The India call-up followed a sustained rise through domestic cricket. He made his List A debut for Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, his T20 debut in 2019 and first-class debut in 2020. His performances subsequently earned him recognition at the national level.
He was among two players, alongside Punjab all-rounder Naman Dhir, to receive maiden ODI call-ups for the three-match series. India had announced Auqib as part of a 15-member squad for the series, which began on September 27.
Nabi’s rapid rise also took him into the Indian Premier League this year. Delhi Capitals acquired him for ₹8.40 crore at the 2026 IPL auction, and he subsequently made his IPL debut during the season. The franchise describes him as a right-arm medium-fast bowler capable of moving the ball both ways.
Auqib’s India ODI debut comes with the hosts leading the three-match series 1-0 after an eight-wicket victory in the opening match at Thiruvananthapuram.
