Auqib Nabi sends the stumps cartwheeling in a stunning spell of 3/28 in NZ-A vs IND-A 2026 1st Test [Watch]

India A fast bowler Auqib Nabi produced a breathtaking display of pace bowling Tuesday, sending Matthew Boyle’s stumps cartwheeling during a fierce spell of three for 28 in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A.

Operating with rhythm and venom in the hosts’ fourth-innings chase of 313, the Jammu and Kashmir right-arm seamer came around the wicket to the left-handed Boyle.

Nabi angled a delivery sharply into the batter before getting it to nip away off the seam just enough to defeat Boyle’s tentative defensive push. The ball completely dismantled the off-stump, uprooting it from the turf and sending it somersaulting through the air as the touring side erupted in celebration.

Watch the dismissal here:

The highlight-reel dismissal capped a devastating new-ball burst from Nabi, who ripped through New Zealand A’s top order to reduce the hosts to 21 for three early in their pursuit.

Having earlier collected three wickets in the first innings and chipped in with an invaluable 38 with the bat during India A’s second-innings revival, Nabi anchored the visitors’ push for victory with his all-around efforts.

The dismissal carries immense relevance for India’s red-ball depth chart. Long viewed as a potent weapon in domestic cricket, Nabi’s ability to exploit overseas conditions and extract lateral seam movement highlights his growing credentials as a backup pace candidate for the senior national side.

Although bad light ultimately saved New Zealand A at 187 for 9 to force a tense draw, Nabi’s blistering exhibition marked the defining moment of the match.

Auqib Nabi not included in India's Test squad for New Zealand series

Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi was not included in India’s 16-member squad for the two-match Test series in New Zealand.

The selectors recalled Anshul Kamboj and Akash Deep to accompany Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, leaving Nabi out of the Test party despite his recent breakthrough performances for India A. He also had a good outing for Surrey in the County Championship.

The two-match Test series will get underway in Wellington on November 19.

India Test Squad vs New Zealand: Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Anshul Kamboj, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Sai Sudharsan.

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