That’s the first shock. The second? The man replacing him in India’s Test squad just earned ₹8.4 crore from Delhi Capitals... and didn’t take a single wicket in IPL 2026. Meet Auqib Nabi; 29, from Jammu & Kashmir, a Ranji Trophy legend with 104 wickets in two seasons, including 60 as his team won their first-ever title. The BCCI didn’t pick him for his IPL stats. They picked him because he’s owned red-ball cricket for years. This isn’t a flash-in-the-pan call-up; it’s a reward for consistency, grit, and raw hunger. And that’s the real story: India’s selectors are betting on substance over spectacle. With WTC points on the line, they’re going with the guy who dominates domestic cricket; not the one who dazzles for 20 overs in front of a million fans. Will he deliver in Sri Lanka? Maybe. But what’s clear is this; in Indian cricket, if you grind long enough, your moment comes. Even if your name isn’t on every highlight reel.