Mohammed Siraj Set for Rest? Auqib Nabi Likely to Earn Maiden India Test Call-Up vs Afghanistan
India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj is unlikely to play in the one-off Test against Afghanistan after a long IPL 2026 season. The Hyderabad pacer has been travelling and playing cricket for the last two months and featured in every match for Gujarat Titans.
According to reports, the team management will make a final decision on Siraj within the next 48 hours. If he is given rest, Auqib Nabi is the leading candidate to replace him in the squad. As per the Times of India, the BCCI medical staff are closely monitoring Siraj, who has joined the Team India camp in New Chandigarh ahead of the one-off Test against AFG that begins on June 5.
A source told the publication that if the selectors decide to rest Siraj, then Nabi could earn his much-deserved maiden Team India call-up for the one-off Test. The report states that while the pacer will continued to be assessed, a final call on his inclusion in the Test will be taken in 48 hours.
“Siraj has had a long season and If he is rested, there is a bright possibility Gurnoor will play and Nabi will come into the squad,” a source told the publication.
Siraj set for rest as Auqib Nabi emerges as likely India replacement
Mohammed Siraj played all 17 matches for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, including the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He took 19 wickets in 17 games at an average of 29.57. Before the IPL, Siraj was also part of India's squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He joined the team as a late replacement after Harshit Rana suffered an injury.
Having played continuous cricket for several months, the Indian team management is considering giving the fast bowler a break ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The one-off Test against AFG isn’t a part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. One of the primary reasons as to why Siraj was initially named in the squad was because Jasprit Bumrah has been rested and the rest of the Indian pace battery is largely inexperienced. Despite taking 60 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy season, Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi was not selected in India's squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan.
His omission drew criticism from former cricketers and experts, who questioned the selection decisions of the committee led by Ajit Agarkar. Critics argued that outstanding performers in domestic cricket were being overlooked, while performances in the IPL were being given greater importance when selecting players for the Test team. In an attempt to get on the right path, Nabi, along with five others, was asked to join the Team India camp in Chandigarh as a net bowler to help the side prepare for the one-off Test. Other net bowlers for the game include Gurjapneet Singh, Prince Yadav, Saransh Jain, Zeeshan Ansari and Shivang Kumar.
India’s squad for one-off Test vs Afghanistan: Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Rishabh Pant (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (WK)