India Test squad for NZ: Why Kamboj was picked and Auqib Nabi missed out again

Anshul Kamboj has earned another opportunity to establish himself in Test cricket, while Auqib Nabi will have to wait for his chance in India’s longest format. The Haryana pacer has been named in India’s 16-member squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand and the first three ODIs. Nabi, meanwhile, has been selected for the final two matches of the five-match ODI series but has missed out on the Test squad.

Kamboj’s selection follows a productive run in domestic cricket. The pacer made his Test debut against England in July 2025 but was subsequently dropped. His latest call-up gives him a chance to build on that experience and make a stronger case for a regular place in the side.

Nabi’s omission stands out given his performances in domestic red-ball cricket. The Jammu and Kashmir pacer took 60 wickets in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, helping his side win their maiden title and finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker. He was also named Player of the Tournament. Despite that record, he has not made the senior Test squad and will have to pursue his chances through the India A programme and the upcoming ODI series.

The decision has sparked debate on social media. Fans questioned why Nabi had been overlooked despite his domestic record, with several arguing that New Zealand’s conditions could suit his style of bowling. Some felt he deserved a chance in India’s Test team, while others suggested Mukesh Kumar would have been a better selection than Kamboj for the tour.

KAMBOJ’S RED BALL FORM

Kamboj’s latest outing came in Haryana’s Ranji Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh in Rohtak, where he claimed six wickets across two innings to help his side secure a six-point victory. He returned figures of 4/56 in the first innings and 2/18 in the second.

Himachal Pradesh were bowled out for 253 before Haryana responded with 296 to take a first-innings lead of 43 runs. Ankit Rajesh Kumar scored 59, Yashvardhan Dalal contributed 72, and Kanishk Chouhan added 50.

Himachal Pradesh managed only 113 in their second innings, leaving Haryana with a target of 71. Resuming their chase at 26 for three on the fourth day, the hosts completed the job in 18.1 overs. Himanshu Rana scored 37, while Dheeru Singh remained unbeaten on 24. The pair added 51 runs off 63 balls to secure the win.

Kamboj has also been among the wickets in first-class cricket this season. Against Australia A in Puducherry, he claimed three wickets in the first match and another three across both innings of the second. He took two wickets against South Zone and three against West Zone in the inter-zonal competition. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 60 in the first innings against West Zone.

His ODI debut against West Indies on October 3 was less successful. Kamboj scored 17 runs but went wicketless, conceding 82 runs. His domestic performances, however, have kept him in contention for another international opportunity.

His breakthrough came during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, when he claimed 34 wickets in six matches. Kamboj also became only the third bowler in the tournament’s history to take all 10 wickets in an innings, achieving the feat against Kerala.

He had also taken 16 wickets in three matches in the 2024 Duleep Trophy, earning the Player of the Tournament award and establishing himself as a consistent wicket-taking option in red-ball cricket.

His first Test assignment against England at Old Trafford in July 2025 proved difficult. Kamboj took one wicket while conceding 89 runs in 18 overs and was subsequently dropped. The New Zealand series will give him a chance to show how he has developed since that debut.

Conditions in New Zealand could offer assistance to Kamboj’s seam bowling, although he will need to adapt to the demands of international cricket. He joins Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep in India’s pace attack for the two-Test series.

Akash Deep has returned after recovering from a lower-back stress fracture, while Bumrah is back in the squad after missing India’s previous Test assignment against Sri Lanka. Their availability gives the team management several pace options for the tour.

AUQIB NABI MISSES OUT AGAIN?

Nabi’s domestic record makes his absence from the Test squad particularly notable. He took 60 wickets at an average of 12.56 in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, including seven five-wicket hauls. In the knockout stages, he claimed 12 wickets against Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final before taking another five-wicket haul in the final against Karnataka.

He had taken 44 wickets in the previous Ranji Trophy season, bringing his tally across the two campaigns to 104. His sustained success in first-class cricket has made him one of the leading domestic seamers and strengthened the argument for a senior international opportunity.

Nabi was previously called up as a replacement for Bumrah during India’s Test series against Sri Lanka but did not make his debut. The pacer received the call-up in August 2026, but his wait for a Test appearance has continued.

He has since made his international debut in the ODI series against West Indies and has been selected for the fourth and fifth matches of the upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand. Nabi has also been named in India A’s squad for three multi-day matches against New Zealand A, beginning on October 24.

The India A fixtures will offer him another chance to demonstrate his red-ball credentials. However, the schedule overlaps with the senior ODI series, meaning his participation in both programmes will depend on the team’s arrangements.

The selection committee has not publicly explained why Nabi was left out of the Test squad. Kamboj’s previous experience in the format and his domestic performances provide context for his recall, but the precise reasoning behind the decision remains unclear.

That uncertainty has fuelled the reaction online. Fans have pointed to Nabi’s wicket-taking record and the prospect of favourable bowling conditions in New Zealand, arguing that his performances warranted serious consideration. The suggestion that Mukesh Kumar might have been a better fit also reflects the debate over which pacers are best suited to the tour.

A CHANCE KAMBOJ MUST MAKE COUNT

India’s five-match ODI series against New Zealand begins on November 4, with matches scheduled through November 15. The two-Test series follows, with the first match starting in Wellington on November 19 and the second in Christchurch from November 27.

For Kamboj, the tour represents an opportunity to turn his domestic consistency into international success. After a difficult debut, he will be keen to make better use of his next chance and strengthen his claim for a longer run in the Test side. His inclusion in India A’s multi-day programme should also provide valuable preparation for New Zealand conditions.

Nabi, meanwhile, will look to make an impression in the ODI series and the India A red-ball programme. His Ranji Trophy record has established his credentials, but a senior Test debut remains elusive.

– Ends