India Test Squad For NZ: Why Kamboj Was Picked And Auqib Nabi Missed Again

Anshul Kamboj has earned another opportunity to make his mark 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-man squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand and the first three ODIs. Nabi, meanwhile, was picked for the last two matches of the five-match ODI series but was absent from the Test squad.

Kamboj’s selection follows a productive run in domestic cricket. Temper made his Test debut against England in July 2025, but was subsequently cancelled. His latest challenge gives him the chance to build on that experience and make a firmer 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 team win their first title and finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker. He was also named player of the tournament. Despite this record, he has not made the senior Test squad and will have to take his chances through the India A program and the upcoming ODI series.

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

KAMBOJ’S RED ORB FORM

Kamboja’s last match came in Haryana’s Ranji Trophy match against Himachal Pradesh in Rohtak, where he took six wickets in two innings to help his team secure a six-run 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 replied with 296 to take a first innings lead by 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. Continuing their chase of 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 victory.

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

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

His breakthrough came during the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season when he took 34 wickets in six matches. Kamboj also became only the third bowler in the history of the tournament to take all 10 wickets in an innings to achieve this against Kerala.

1 innings 10 wickets Historic spell 30.1 overs 9 maidens 49 runs 10 wickets Watch Haryana Pacer Anshul Kamboj’s record 1st innings spell against Kerala #RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 15, 2024

He also took 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 and conceded 89 runs in 18 overs and was subsequently released. The New Zealand series will give him a chance to show how he has developed since his debut.

The conditions in New Zealand could offer some help to Kamboja’s bowling, although he will have to adjust to the demands of international cricket. He will join Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep in India’s pace attack for the two-Test series.

Akash Deep is back after recovering from a lower back 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 options to pace the tour.

AUQIB NABI IS MISSING AGAIN?

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

He took 44 wickets in the previous Ranji Trophy season, taking his tally to 104 across the two campaigns. His continued success in first-class cricket made him one of the leading domestic players and strengthened the case for a senior international opportunity.

Nabi was earlier called in as a replacement for Bumrah during India’s Test series against Sri Lanka, but made his debut. The Stimulator received a challenge in August 2026, but its wait for a test appearance 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 was also named in the India A squad for the three-match multi-day series against New Zealand A starting on 24 October.

The India A matches will offer him another chance to showcase his red balls. However, the schedule overlaps with the senior ODI series, meaning his participation in both programs will depend on the squad’s set-up.

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

The uncertainty sparked a backlash online. Pointing to Nabi’s wicket-taking record and the prospect of favorable bowling conditions in New Zealand, fans argued that his performances warranted serious consideration. The suggestion that Mukesh Kumar might be more suitable also reflects the debate about which pacers are best suited for the tour.

CHANCES CAMBODIA MUST COUNT

India’s five-match ODI series against New Zealand begins on November 4 and the matches are scheduled till November 15. A 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 domestic consistency into international success. After a difficult debut, he will want to make the most of his next chance and strengthen his claim for a longer run in the Test side. His inclusion in India A’s multi-day program should also provide valuable preparation for New Zealand conditions.

Nabi, meanwhile, will look to impress in the ODI series and the India A red-ball programme. His Ranji Trophy record has confirmed his credentials, but a first Test debut remains elusive.

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