Auqib Nabi, a 29-year-old all-rounder from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, has become the first cricketer from the region to earn an India Test call-up, replacing the injured Jasprit Bumrah in the squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting 15 August. The selection is regarded as a landmark for a region where conflict, harsh winters and limited sporting infrastructure have long restricted opportunities, and it caps a long, difficult journey for a player whose schoolteacher father initially wanted him to focus on academics rather than sport.

Growing up with little cricketing infrastructure, Auqib had to travel around 70km to Srinagar to practise on proper pitches and lacked spike shoes at his first trials. He made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2020 with a five-wicket haul, took 44 wickets in the 2024-25 season as the tournament's leading fast bowler, then followed it with 60 wickets in 10 matches the following season, becoming the competition's top wicket-taker and helping Jammu and Kashmir win their first-ever Ranji Trophy title after a 67-year wait.