Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi and Punjab all-rounder Naman Dhir have received their maiden India call-ups for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. The BCCI selection committee announced the 15-member squad on September 16, 2026, naming Shubman Gill as captain and KL Rahul as vice-captain for the series beginning September 27.
Nabi’s selection follows a series of high-impact performances in domestic and red-ball cricket. On September 15, while on a short-term contract with Surrey, the right-arm pacer took 4 for 36 against Glamorgan at the Kia Oval. Reflecting on the performance, Nabi said, “I always wanted to come here and play this kind of cricket. So yeah, I enjoyed it a lot.” During the 2025-26 season, Nabi also became the first bowler in Duleep Trophy history to take four wickets in four balls.
The squad composition accounts for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer have been omitted from the ODI squad to represent India in the T20 format at the Games. This overlap opened a vacancy for Dhir, who joins the national setup alongside Nabi.
Analysis: The selection signals a dual-track strategy where senior stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli provide stability to the top order while the bowling unit tests high-ceiling domestic talent. Nabi’s inclusion is the result of a standout year that included a 60-wicket Ranji Trophy season and an 8.40 crore IPL deal with Delhi Capitals.
In other selection developments, Rishabh Pant has been named captain of the Rest of India (ROI) squad for the Irani Cup match against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir, scheduled for October 1-5, 2026. Hardik Pandya was not included in the ODI squad; selectors are reportedly waiting for him to demonstrate his bowling workload for India A before an international return.
The home series against the West Indies opens in Trivandrum on September 27. The second ODI takes place in Guwahati on September 30, followed by the final match in New Chandigarh on October 3.
