Auqib Nabi Dhar, India’s most talked about uncapped player in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season, has said that he is not thinking about a national call-up at the moment. In a pre-season media interaction, Nabi said he is focused on his mission to do well in his first IPL stint where he hopes to help Delhi Capitals win their maiden title.
Read the full story
Nabi further added that while a national challenge remains every cricketer’s dream, it is only a by-product of consistent performances throughout the season.
“The selection of the red ball is not in my hands; it is a by-product of how you perform during the domestic season,” Nabi told India Today during a media session on Friday, March 27.
Nabi said his full focus is on the IPL where he wants to help Delhi win their first title in the tournament.
“I am not focusing on anything that is not in my hands. Right now, I am solely focused on the IPL where I want to help Delhi Capitals win their first IPL title.”
AUQIB LIKELY TO OPEN BOWLING FOR DC
Auqib Nabi burst into the limelight after consistent performances on the domestic circuit raised his stature in Indian cricket circles. Nicknamed the Baramulla Express, he recently played a key role with both bat and ball in helping Jammu and Kashmir secure a historic Ranji Trophy title.
The fast bowler has been praised for his impeccable and consistent line and length, taking 60 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 12.65 in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy season.
These exploits put his name firmly in contention for the national red ball setup. Building on this momentum, Auqib was picked up by Delhi Capitals for Rs 8.4 crore in a mini auction late last year.
“I am not focusing on the ongoing talks,” he said, referring to speculation about his inclusion in the Indian Red-ball squad. “Right now I am fully focused on my preparations and continue to play good cricket by building on my strengths.”
With Mitchell Starc likely to miss the opening part of the tournament, which spans 74 matches, it is likely that the responsibility of opening the bowling for Delhi Capitals could fall on Auqib.
“I’ll keep things simple while leveraging my strengths to throw the ball both ways. I hope this will give Delhi Capitals early breakthroughs with the new ball,” he concluded.
Auqib Nabi and Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
27 March 2026 18:17 IST
