The former India cricketer expressed doubts about the Jammu & Kashmir seamer's preparation for ODI cricket despite his maiden squad selection.
Auqib Nabi, the Jammu and Kashmir seamer, earned his maiden One-Day International call-up when the BCCI announced India's squad on September 16, 2026, for the three-match ODI series against West Indies. The 29-year-old right-arm medium bowler was included in the squad as most senior players headed to Japan for the Asian Games 2026. The series begins in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27.
Nabi's selection came on the back of an outstanding Ranji Trophy performance during the 2025-26 season, where he finished with 60 wickets at an average of 12.65 and earned the player of the tournament award. He was also signed by Delhi Capitals for Rs 8.40 crore at the 2026 IPL auction. Earlier, he was picked for India's two-match Test series in Sri Lanka as an injury replacement for Jasprit Bumrah but did not play. Aakash Chopra, the former India batsman, expressed reservations about Nabi's readiness for the demands of white-ball cricket.
"I am really happy for Auqib Nabi, but at the same time, deep down, I am also a bit concerned because he is still not going to get an opportunity. You have selected him, but will you give him a chance? I am not sure. It just feels like: Is Auqib Nabi ready for white-ball cricket? Is he actually going to make a difference?" Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Chopra's concerns over Nabi's white-ball readiness
Despite his squad selection, Nabi is unlikely to make his ODI debut and could remain on the bench throughout the series. The squad contains three frontline pace options in Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Gurnoor Brar, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy as a fast-bowling all-rounder, limiting opportunities for the newcomer. Chopra elaborated on his concerns about whether Nabi possessed the necessary attributes to succeed in the shorter format, particularly regarding his bowling pace and ability to operate across different phases of an innings.
"Let's be honest about it, he does not have much pace. He has to bowl 10 overs, that too in different phases, so is he ready for that? I have not seen the evidence yet. I am going to wait and watch. The kind of performances we saw in the IPL, I don't think it was convincing enough to show that he can bowl in all three phases of an innings," Chopra said.
"I am still optimistic that he will get to play matches in New Zealand. He is almost ideal for those conditions. But against West Indies on flat pitches? I am not sure," he added.