Aqib Nabi's India call-up will inspire Jammu & Kashmir cricketers: Bowling Coach Krishnakumar

While there is ongoing debate over whether India’s Test selections increasingly favour IPL performances over sustained success in domestic cricket, Jammu & Kashmir bowling coach P Krishnakumar believes Aquib Nabi’s inclusion in the national squad will reinforce players’ faith in the traditional route to top-tier selection.

Nabi, who was drafted into India’s squad for the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka after Jasprit Bumrah’s injury, earned his place on the back of consistent Ranji Trophy performances. Reacting to the call-up, Krishnakumar said the selection sends an important message to aspiring cricketers.

“I would not say it’s a late inclusion of Nabi in the national side because it is about picking the best combination for the country. It took some time but ultimately it happened. I’m sure this will definitely develop belief among aspiring cricketers across the country, especially in J&K, where players train in tough conditions. If they work hard and keep performing in the domestic circuit, they will eventually get their chance to play for the country,” Krishnakumar said.

“In the IPL, because you are playing against the top players, it gives you a little bit of an edge. But Nabi’s selection will create belief. The selectors have reinforced the idea that if you perform consistently in domestic cricket, you will get an opportunity to play for the country,” he added.

The coach said Nabi’s transformation into an international-ready fast bowler was the result of two years of meticulous preparation. “There is a lot of hard work behind this (selection). For the last two years, Nabi has upskilled his bowling,” he said. “We had several sessions where we worked on his swing, moving the ball, bowling on different pitches with different balls and in different conditions. We trained in the morning, afternoon and evening, in both very cold and very hot weather. The preparation was thorough. He has worked extremely hard to develop himself as a fast bowler.”

According to Krishnakumar, succeeding on the flat wickets common in domestic cricket demanded a significant upgrade in Nabi’s skill set. “The pitches in domestic cricket are very flat and good for batting. To take wickets, you need high-quality skills. Aquib has worked very hard on that aspect,” he said. “Over the last two years, he was trying to get into the Indian team. I told him there was no point wasting time thinking over things he couldn’t control. What he could control was his preparation.”

133027401
Assessing Nabi’s strengths, Krishnakumar described him as “fantastic when it comes to moving the ball” and said his natural length is well suited to red-ball cricket. At the same time, he urged patience, stressing that international cricket presents a far greater challenge than the domestic game. “Although he has done well on the India ‘A’ tour of Lanka, there is a difference in the quality of cricket,” Krishnakumar said. “We have to give him a chance and back him. Gautam bhai (head coach gautam Gambhir) will definitely give him the freedom and space to work. If he gets that backing, he will become a better bowler.”