Auqib Nabi, a 29-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder from Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir (a Himalayan region long affected by conflict and limited sporting infrastructure), has become the first cricketer from the region to earn an India Test call-up, joining the squad for a two-match series against Sri Lanka beginning 15 August. The son of a schoolteacher who initially urged him to pursue medicine, Nabi spent years travelling 70km to Srinagar just to practise on proper pitches, before taking 60 wickets in 10 matches to lead Jammu and Kashmir to their first-ever Ranji Trophy (India's top domestic tournament) title. His selection is being hailed as a landmark moment for a region that, despite affiliating with Indian cricket's governing board in 1957, still has only two major stadiums and has historically produced few professional cricketers.