Growing up in curfew-hit Baramulla, cricket was little more than a pastime for Auqib Nabi. Armed with a tennis ball and dreams inspired by South African pace legend Dale Steyn, the young fast bowler spent countless hours copying his idol’s bowling action.
“Growing up, Dale Steyn was my idol. I loved his bowling action and his wicket celebrations. Everything about his bowling was poetry. He was a khoobsurat gendbaaz (beautiful bowler),” Nabi recalls.
Today, the 28-year-old Jammu & Kashmir pacer is carving out a reputation of his own. After a sensational 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season in which he claimed 44 wickets in just eight matches—the second-highest tally in the tournament—Nabi has carried his form into the 2025-26 season, emerging as one of India’s most consistent domestic fast bowlers.
Leading J&K’s pace attack
Nabi has already claimed 17 wickets this season, including two five-wicket hauls.
Against Mumbai, he dismissed some of domestic cricket’s biggest names, including Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan twice, and centurion Siddhesh Lad. He followed it up with a devastating performance against Rajasthan, claiming 7 for 24 in the second innings and finishing with a 10-wicket match haul after ripping through the opposition’s top order.
The left-arm pacer believes Jammu & Kashmir can finally end their wait for a Ranji Trophy title.
“I believe we can win the Ranji Trophy this season. We have the best bowling attack in the country, and everyone is contributing. Even when we lose wickets, our lower order adds valuable runs. I think we can go all the way,” he says confidently.
The heartbreak that still hurts
Last season’s heartbreaking quarterfinal defeat to Kerala continues to haunt him.
Jammu & Kashmir narrowly missed a semifinal berth after Kerala secured a one-run first-innings lead, thanks to an unforgettable 81-run partnership between M. Nidheesh and Basil Thampi.
“It was sheer bad luck. I’ll never forget that match or that partnership. Waah re qismat (What luck!),” Nabi says with a smile.
From struggling for swing to mastering both ways
Before the 2024-25 breakthrough, Nabi had managed just 46 wickets in 20 first-class matches.
He admits his biggest challenge was regaining control over both inswing and outswing.
“I initially bowled outswing naturally. Then I worked on inswing and ended up losing my outswing. Later I realised I needed both. I worked on my wrist position and focused on bowling the right lengths. Over the last two years I’ve kept things simple, and now I can move the ball both ways consistently.
“Irfan Pathan’s faith changed everything
Despite modest early returns, the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association continued backing Nabi.
One major reason was former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, who joined the team as player-cum-mentor. Before leaving, Pathan reportedly urged the association to continue investing in the young pacer.
“When I started playing, we didn’t even have bowling coaches. Irfan Pathan was the first person who taught me about wrist position and encouraged me not to change my natural action. Those tips helped me immensely.
“Nabi also credits current bowling coach P. Krishna Kumar for helping him refine his skills over the past two seasons.
A father’s dream, a son’s destiny
Cricket was never part of the original plan.
Nabi’s father, Gulam Nabi Dar, an English teacher in a government school, wanted his academically bright son to become a doctor.
“I was good at studies, and my father always wanted me to become a doctor,” Nabi says.
He stumbled into cricket almost by accident after a friend persuaded him to attend JKCA trials. He failed to make the cut for two or three years before finally earning selection in the Under-19 four-day team in 2016.
“After playing the Cooch Behar Trophy, I realised this was what I wanted to do.
“Initially, his father opposed the decision.
“He believed studies came first and was upset when I chose cricket.
But after my Under-19 selection, he slowly began supporting me. Today, he’s my biggest fan.”
Parvez Rasool became the inspiration
The dream of representing India took shape when Nabi watched fellow Kashmiri Parvez Rasool make his India debut.
“Watching Parvez bhai wear the India jersey during the national anthem gave me goosebumps. Seeing someone from Kashmir reach that level made me believe it was possible.”
Borrowed spikes, borrowed dreams
Nabi still laughs while recalling his first JKCA trial.
“I reached Jammu wearing sports shoes worth ₹500. That’s when I learnt fast bowlers needed spikes.”
Unable to afford a pair, he borrowed spikes from a senior player. Even after making the Under-19 team, he continued borrowing shoes from teammates.
His first Ranji match fee finally allowed him to buy his own spikes.
“I still have those shoes. They’ll stay with me forever because they were the first step towards my dream.”
India remains the ultimate goal
Despite receiving appreciation from national selector Ajay Ratra after his five-wicket haul against Mumbai and encouragement from India pacers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana during the Duleep Trophy, Nabi refuses to get carried away.
“Whatever is written in your destiny, you’ll receive. I can only work hard; the rest is in Allah’s hands.”
His dream remains unchanged.
“My only goal is to play for India. Coming from Baramulla, even dreaming about representing the country felt impossible. Now I believe it can happen.”
Dreaming beyond himself
Beyond wearing the India jersey, Nabi has another ambition—to build a cricket academy in Baramulla.
“When I started, we didn’t even have proper grounds. I had to travel to Bengaluru for training. I want to create facilities here and help produce more cricketers from Baramulla.”
The IPL remains another unfinished chapter.
Over the years, Nabi has attended trials for Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Delhi Capitals also invited him before scheduling issues prevented him from attending.
“I want to play in the IPL. It will help me fulfil my dream of opening a cricket academy in Baramulla.”
From bowling in borrowed spikes on makeshift grounds to becoming one of India’s most promising domestic fast bowlers, Auqib Nabi’s journey is built on resilience, patience and faith. The man once known as Baramulla’s “Dale Steyn” is now chasing a bigger dream—wearing the India jersey and inspiring the next generation of cricketers from Kashmir.