With a stellar domestic record and standout performances, Auqib Nabi, the pace-bowling all-rounder from Jammu & Kashmir, has emerged as a strong contender for a spot in Team India. His exceptional run in the Ranji Trophy, where he took 44 wickets in 8 matches including six five-wicket hauls and a total of 95 wickets in 30 First-Class matches, speaks volumes about his consistency.
In the Duleep Trophy quarterfinals, Auqib grabbed headlines with figures of 5/28, including a hat-trick and four wickets in four balls, showcasing his ability to turn matches single-handedly.
Cricketing figures have rallied behind him. Mithun Manhas, Head of Cricket Operations JKCA, hailed him as a “class act” and “special character.” India pacer Arshdeep Singh called his bowling “sensational stuff,” while Shubham Khajuria ranked him above several current Indian bowlers he has faced.
Auqib credited his success to JKCA’s professional approach, world-class infrastructure, and regular opportunities. His dream remains to wear the India whites, and with age, talent, and hard work on his side, the call-up seems only a matter of time. The selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, would do well to take notice.
