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Gambhir explains why India gave Auqib Nabi his ODI debut in series-deciding match

Indian team leader Gautam Gambhir recently defended the decision to award Auqib Nabi his maiden one-day international cap during a high-stakes fixture against the West Indies rather than waiting for a potential dead rubber. Gambhir explained that throwing young talents into scenarios loaded with championship pressure better prepares them for major global tournaments like the World Cup.

Nabi stepped into the lineup in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy after coming off a stellar domestic campaign where he claimed sixty wickets in the Ranji Trophy. The debut fixture took place at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on the thirtieth of September, 2026, following an opening victory for the squad at Thiruvananthapuram.

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