Auqib Nabi, a fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, earned headlines after his standout performance in the domestic circuit led Delhi Capitals to secure him for 8.4 crore rupees ahead of IPL 2026. Though many focused on his prowess with the red ball, he showed just as much impact in shorter formats. During the Duleep Trophy 2025-26, across only two appearances, he gathered six dismissals – five of them falling in one innings while playing for North Zone. Seven outings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy brought 14 scalps, proving consistency wasn’t fleeting.
That buzz around his Duleep Trophy show? Nabi felt sure it would bring an IPL deal. When silence hit the auction room at first, hope slipped away. Then came a rush of bids – sudden, sharp – the kind that changes everything. His name climbed higher than any player from J&K had ever gone before.
A thought crossed his mind at 29: the cost attached means nothing when your aim is simply to shine for Delhi in the IPL, then quietly become someone India might turn to.
Four wickets on four straight deliveries – that’s what clicked during my turn with North Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Suddenly, headlines started carrying my name more than usual. With each mention, belief grew sharper inside me – maybe an IPL bid wasn’t too far off. Few seconds passed without a single hand rising, when my name echoed through the hall,” Nabi recalled during his moment on JioStar’s ‘TATA IPL: Dream On’. Home that day, surrounded by family, eyes locked on the live bid unfold. Then silence broke – someone finally lifted the paddle.
Then came the moment – bidding started fast. Effort from long days suddenly had value. Hands shot up before silence could settle again. Relief washed through as names echoed across the room. What felt like waiting forever ended in minutes. He said the money wasn’t the driving force. Playing in the IPL was my goal, now I aim to stand out, maybe earn an India cap,” he explained.
Nabi Expresses Gratitude to Irfan Pathan for Support
Back then, Nabi played in the under-23 setup when Irfan Pathan noticed him. That moment changed things – Pathan didn’t just open doors for his first senior appearance, he passed on quiet insights too. Those small pieces of advice shaped how Nabi approached bowling later on.
Later on, after Irfan bhai came in as mentor for Jammu and Kashmir, I found myself playing in the Under-23 squad where things started clicking. Because of how I played back then, he noticed me early. My first match with the senior side happened thanks to him pushing forward. Tips from him shaped much of my growth – he stayed involved, always around. Even though he made it big with Team India, working alongside him felt real, down-to-earth. That time left a mark, according to Nabi.
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