Who is Auqib Nabi? All you need to know about J&K all-rounder

Auqib Nabi, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer, has been making all the right noises in Indian domestic cricket at the moment. In the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, he has been in blistering form, taking 44 wickets—the highest by a pacer this season—including six five-wicket hauls.

Auqib Nabi, born on November 4, 1996, in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, has quickly established himself as a significant member of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team. 

Auqib Nabi made his first-class debut in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy, claiming five wickets against Jharkhand. Since then, he has consistently performed well in domestic cricket, representing Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu & Kashmir's fiery bowler Auqib Nabi delivered a burst of pure brilliance, recording astounding figures of 6-2-5-5 against Rajasthan in their second innings – a performance that has all but cemented J&K's innings victory in their Ranji Trophy battle. 

Before shredding Rajasthan's top order, Auqib had already established himself with the bat. Walking in at a critical point, the right-hander hit a 48-ball fifty, his first half-century in first-class cricket, guiding J&K to a strong total of 282 in response to Rajasthan's 152.

Auqib Nabi names South African great Dale Steyn as his hero and inspiration and has stated that he copied his bowling action and loved his aggression and outswingers. 

In the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker among all pacers, bagging 44 wickets in 8 matches at an astonishing average of 13.93. Despite all these performances, there is no call up for India A or Rest of India teams. No IPL team has shown interest in Nabi as well. 

With India’s pace backups shrinking at an alarming rate, with Mohammad Shami battling with fitness and form, Bumrah restricted by his workload, Siraj dealing with being overworked, Auqib Nabi’s story stands as a stark reminder of what India’s selectors might be missing.

Nabi is about to reach the pinnacle of his career at the age of 27. He's developed into a full-fledged fast-bowling all-rounder who can alter games with both bat and ball, not simply a tearaway quick. 

He is a unique and significant asset that India's Test and ODI teams may greatly benefit from due to his innate ability to move the ball both ways and his potent lower-order batting presence.

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