Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi has signed a short-term deal with English county side Surrey for the ongoing County Championship. The 29-year-old seamer will play three red-ball matches during the County Championship in England, subject to the completion of his visa formalities.
Shubman Gill’s side won the recently concluded two-match Test series 1-0 in Sri Lanka. Nabi was added to the Indian squad as an injury replacement for Jasprit Bumrah but did not make his international debut, with the team management opting to play Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj as pacers.
Auqib Nabi Joins Surrey Ahead of New Zealand Tour
Indian selectors are understood to want Auqib Nabi to gain valuable experience in seamer-friendly English conditions rather than feature in the Duleep Trophy at this stage. A county stint could strengthen the 29-year-old pacer’s case for a place in India’s squad for the Test series in New Zealand.
Nabi has impressed with the SG ball in domestic cricket over the last two seasons. He has the ability to swing the new ball in overseas conditions. Journalist Mohsin Kamal confirmed Nabi’s short-term county move on X (formerly Twitter).
“NEW: Auqib Nabi joins Surrey for a 3-match stint in the ongoing County Championship. He will feature in their upcoming fixture on September 02 against Yorkshire. #CountyCricket”
NEW: Auqib Nabi joins Surrey for a 3-match stint in the ongoing County Championship. He will feature in their upcoming fixture on September 02 against Yorkshire. #CountyCricket
— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) August 30, 2026
Auqib Nabi Earns India Call-Up After Stellar Ranji Trophy Season
Auqib Nabi earned his maiden India call-up after an outstanding 2025-26 Ranji Trophy campaign for Jammu and Kashmir. The right-arm seamer took 60 wickets at an average of 12.56 and emerged as one of the most effective fast bowlers in domestic cricket.
He joined India’s squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the tour due to injury. However, Nabi did not feature in either Test, with the team management preferring Prasidh Krishna.
India won the two-match series 1-0 after a 165-run victory in the first Test in Galle. Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 runs in the first innings, while Manav Suthar took 10 wickets to help India secure a comfortable win.
The second Test in Colombo ended in a draw. India declared at 503/9 after centuries from Dhruv Jurel and Padikkal, but Sri Lanka held on to finish at 429/9 on the final day. Sonal Dinusha's unbeaten 133 helped the hosts avoid a series clean sweep.
Indian Cricketers Continue County Stints in England
Auqib Nabi will join several Indian players currently featuring in English county cricket. Rahul Chahar is representing Surrey and has taken three wickets in a four-day match against Glamorgan. He also featured in a List A game against Nottinghamshire but went wicketless.
Mahipal Lomror has also played for Nottinghamshire, while Gujarat Titans spinner Sai Kishore is representing Gloucestershire. Sai Kishore took four wickets in the first innings against Worcestershire.
Veteran left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat has played three matches for Sussex this season and taken 11 wickets, with his best figures of 4/29 coming against Glamorgan.
Yuzvendra Chahal has been with Northamptonshire since the end of IPL 2026. The leg-spinner has taken 15 wickets in seven List A matches, including three wickets in a County Championship game against Lancashire.
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