Auqib Nabi gets first India call-up, Dhruv Jurel named captain for Sri Lanka tour

Wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel will lead India A on their upcoming multi-day tour of Sri Lanka, while Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Auqib Nabi has earned his first call-up to the side after a breakthrough domestic season.

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee on Saturday announced the 14-member squad for the two four-day matches against Sri Lanka A to be played in Galle from June 25 to July 5. Devdutt Padikkal was appointed vice-captain for the red-ball duty.

Nabi’s inclusion is one of the biggest highlights of the team’s announcement. The 24-year-old was rewarded for an outstanding Ranji Trophy campaign in which he emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 60 scalps and played a key role in helping Jammu and Kashmir win their maiden Ranji Trophy title. The fast-bowling all-rounder has also been part of the net-bowling group of India’s senior team in recent red-ball assignments.

The India A batting line-up features several established home-grown performers, including Sai Sudharsan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and N Jagadeesan. Vidarbha batsman Aman Mokhade and Andhra Pradesh’s Shaik Rasheed have also received their first India A call-ups after impressive performances in domestic cricket.

The pace attack will be led by Nabi along with Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar, who has been on the fringes of the senior national team recently. The spin responsibility will rest on Zeeshan Ansari and Saransh Jain, while the all-rounder Ayush Badoni offers another spin-bowling option.

Notably, both Nabi and Zeeshan have been involved in the senior Indian side as net bowlers during the run-up to the ongoing Test assignment against Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Gaikwad, Badoni, Thakur and Kamboj are already in Sri Lanka as part of the India A team competing in the ongoing 50-over series in Dambulla.

The tour is expected to play a key role in India’s red-ball circuit, with the players getting a chance to adapt to spin-friendly conditions and the Kookaburra red ball ahead of the two-Test Senior World Cup series in Sri Lanka later this year.

India Team for multi-day matches in Sri Lanka

Dhruv Jurel (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Ayush Badoni, Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Saransh Jain, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Yash Thakur, Anshul Kamboj, N Jagadeesan, Aman Mokhade, Shaik Ansari and Zees.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

June 6, 2026 4:02 PM IST