Cricket has a never-ending stream of stories that entertain fans and frequently come from the most obscure players in the game. Meet Auqib Nabi, a Jammu & Kashmir pace bowler who has done one of the most difficult feats in first-class cricket with four wickets in four balls in a quarter-final match of the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy. Much of the hype was about Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, and this little-known cricketer just showcased his talent, durability, and skill, and every cricketer needs to have the requisite stamina to back up their talent!
Auqib Nabi’s story is more than just taking wickets; it is about perseverance against the odds of poor facilities. To start with, Baramulla, Kashmir, following his cricket dreams in a place where the nearest first-class ground was over 50 kilometres away in Srinagar.
The Spell That Stopped Everyone in Their Tracks
Day two of the North Zone vs. East Zone match in Bengaluru was expected to follow a familiar course until Nabi had other ideas. With East Zone looking comfortable at 222 for 5, Nabi unleashed a whirlwind, snaring four wickets in as many balls and rewriting the script in an instant. He skittled the middle stump of Virat Singh, trapped Manishi lbw, sent down the hat-trick ball to dismiss Mukhtar Hussain, before taking the wicket of Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, caught behind, on the first delivery of his next over. It was the stuff of fever dreams. However, he wasn’t finished and took his fifth shortly afterwards—putting his team in an utterly dominant position in the first innings. Nabi flipped the script completely—after a quiet 0 for 23 in seven overs, he exploded with 5 for 5 in just over three overs. But it is not just about the statistics; the performance announced Nabi as a player to watch on a bigger stage.
A Bowler Who Bats, A Player Who Leads
Auqib Nabi’s value comes from his all-around ability. Nabi sparked a mini revival with the bat, blasting 44 off 33 balls and taking North Zone from 308 for 7 to a sturdy 405. That 66-run eighth-wicket partnership with Kanhaiya Wadhawan was not only a run-fest, it was a statement. Nabi is not merely a bowler who can take wickets quickly. His excellent batting was representative of his philosophy: when competing in multiple areas of the game, confidence develops of itself and enhances every area of your game in cricket.
Eyes on the Bigger Prize: India Whites
Every moment on the field, every net session, and every ounce of extra effort is dedicated to this target. Whether it is taking the Ranji Trophy by host last season (where he took 44 wickets in eight matches), to leading J&K to one of its few runs in the knockouts, everything has been steep learning, a great trajectory. It has not been an easy journey to make, but it is a masterclass in continued commitment level and purposefulness. For fans, analysts, and young cricketers alike, Nabi’s learning story teaches a valuable lesson about talent itself, and that talent opens doors, and determination walks you through them.
FAQs
- Who is Auqib Nabi?
Auqib Nabi is a fast bowler from Jammu & Kashmir who recently starred in the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy.
- How has Nabi performed in domestic cricket recently?
Claiming 44 wickets over eight matches, he secured his spot among the top wicket-takers of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy.
- Has Nabi’s cricket journey crossed paths with the Duleep Trophy yet?
Yes, in 2025-26
