Auqib Nabi hasn’t even been able to represent India A. The pacer from Jammu and Kashmir has been snubbed by selectors from red-ball cricket despite excellent numbers in the Ranji Trophy. He didn’t find any suitors in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year either.
Auqib Nabi earns big bag at IPL 2026 auction
But Auqib has continued to take wickets in bulk. And at last, his persistence has been rewarded. After giving trials for multiple franchises, the buzz around him was high. That’s why, despite having a base price of just INR 30 lakh, Auqib ended up getting sold for INR 8.40 crore at the IPL 2026 auction.
Four franchises showed interest in him: Delhi Capitals (DC), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). DC and RR started the bidding, with RCB jumping in. But after the 2-mark crore was breached, it was just DC and SRH who continued until the former bought Auqib for INR 8.40 crore.
With this, Auqib has also become the most expensive Kashmiri player bought at the auction, overtaking Rasikh Salam Dar, who received INR 6 crore from RCB last season.
Most expensive uncapped buys in IPL auction history
| Player | Auction Edition | Team | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prashant Veer | 2026 | CSK | 14.20 crore |
| Kartik Sharma | 2026 | CSK | 14.20 crore |
| Avesh Khan | 2022 | LSG | 10 crore |
| Krishnappa Gowtham | 2021 | CSK | 9.25 crore |
| Shahrukh Khan | 2022 | PBKS | 9 crore |
| Rahul Tewatia | 2022 | GT | 9 crore |
| Krunal Pandya | 2018 | MI | 8.80 crore |
| Pawan Negi | 2016 | DC | 8.50 crore |
| Rahul Tripathi | 2022 | SRH | 8.50 crore |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 2019 | PBKS | 8.40 crore |
| Sameer Rizvi | 2024 | CSK | 8.40 crore |
| Auqib Nabi | 2026 | DC | 8.40 crore |
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