Suresh Raina Backs Ranji Trophy Star Auqib Nabi After India Test Snub

Former India batter Suresh Raina believes Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi was unlucky to miss out on selection after India's squads for the upcoming one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan were announced.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Raina backed the selectors' decision to bring in fresh faces but felt Nabi's domestic performances warranted consideration for a place in the Test squad.

"Auqib Nabi should have gotten a chance. He played a key role in Jammu and Kashmir winning the Ranji Trophy for the first time. But I feel Prasidh and Siraj are bowling well with good line and length. They have pace, and Gurnoor, who is 6'5", comes from Punjab and has taken 52 wickets in 18 first-class matches," Raina said.

The former India all-rounder suggested that newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill likely had a say in the composition of the pace attack, particularly with the inclusion of tall Punjab seamer Gurnoor.

"I am sure Shubman Gill would have given his inputs about the kind of bowlers he wanted. Gurnoor offers a point of difference because of his height and build. You also see players like Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey being picked, so I feel Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh are doing a good job in the selection committee. They have been watching matches all around the country and would have kept an eye on the top performers during the red-ball season."

Mohammad Kaif backs Pant as vice-captain

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif, meanwhile, questioned the decision to replace Rishabh Pant as Test vice-captain, arguing that performances in the IPL should not influence leadership decisions in the longest format.

"Rishabh Pant hasn't done anything wrong. Red-ball and white-ball cricket are two very different formats. You are judging him based on the IPL, saying that he is not doing a good job as captain, that his team is losing, and that he is not scoring runs. But I believe there is no bigger match-winner for India in Tests, as a batter, than Rishabh Pant," Kaif said.

The former middle-order batter stressed that selectors should apply a consistent approach when evaluating players.

"The problem is that people mix the formats. Why didn't Auqib Nabi get the nod? Because he didn't take wickets in the IPL? These are two completely different formats. KL Rahul is 34 years old. On one hand, you don't pick Mohammed Shami, saying that age is not on his side and that you are looking at younger players. So, I'd want them to be consistent. Either go by form, regardless of age, and if you are scoring runs or taking wickets, you should get picked. Because I think Rishabh Pant deserved to continue as vice-captain."

Rahul named vice-captain for Afghanistan Test

The selectors handed the Test vice-captaincy to KL Rahul for the Afghanistan Test, while also opting for a relatively new-look bowling unit featuring names such as Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Singh, Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey.

The selection decisions have already sparked debate among former players, particularly regarding Pant's demotion and Nabi's omission despite an impressive domestic campaign. However, Raina believes the selectors deserve credit for rewarding performers from the red-ball circuit while building a squad suited to Gill's leadership style ahead of the home series against Afghanistan.