Delhi Capitals’ Auqib Nabi stretches before the Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians | Photo credit: AP
Jammu and Kashmir’s Auqib Nabi has been making the domestic cricketing landscape in India take notice of his talent with breathtaking performances on the First Class circuit for the better part of two years now. Stick a new red ball in his right hand and Nabi, otherwise shy and reserved, always lets him do the talking, luring seasoned batsmen into his trap with subtle changes in wrist position. For proof, look no further than his dismissal of KL Rahul and Karun Nair in Karnataka’s first innings in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy final.
It is because of this rare skill that Nabi has been at the forefront of J&K’s headline acts in recent times. In an epoch-making 2025-26 Ranji season that saw the northern side break free from the shackles of history and lift the crown for the first time, Nabi’s display – making 60 dismissals in 10 matches – was the piece de resistance. The medium-pacer from Baramulla was no less influential in the previous season, taking 44 wickets in J&K’s run to Thursday – it was a first-innings deficit against Kerala that agonizingly prevented the Paras Dogra-led side from marching forward. As irresistible as Nabi has been in India’s premier first-class competition, it’s a sign of the times that his abilities will quickly gain wider recognition if he can cut it in the Indian Premier League over the next two months. His style may not be as suited to the white-ball game, but he scalped 15 wickets in seven matches for J&K in the last Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – the home T20 encounter – at a respectable economy rate of 7.41 runs per match.
Published – 09 Apr 2026 0:44 IST
