Auqib Nabi’s name has been making rounds time and again. He started his domestic season with a bang, taking a double hat-trick on his Duleep Trophy debut. With his ability to bowl superbly with the new ball and some hitting lower down the order, Nabi became the most expensive Kashmir player in IPL history. The Delhi Capitals (DC) dished out INR 8.40 crore on the budding cricketer, who is a massive favourite to get into the Indian Test side sooner rather than later.
Now, playing his maiden Ranji Trophy final, Nabi has continued his terrific form with the ball. He isn’t spearheading the Jammu and Kashmir attack but is dishing out consistent performances. On Day 3 of the final against Karnataka, Nabi bagged the biggest wicket. He dismissed KL Rahul, with whom he will be sharing the dressing room come the IPL 2026 from March 26 onwards.
Auqib Nabi stuns KL Rahul in Ranji Trophy final
After J&K posted a mammoth 584 in the first innings, everyone hoped that the star-studded Karnataka batting lineup wouldn’t have massive issues piling runs on a placid Hubli surface. But Nabi had other plans. He did what he does the best. And that is to make the new ball talk. For a pacer, who hasn’t represented India ‘A’ yet, troubled Rahul so much.
Right from his first over, Nabi bowled tantalizing lines, troubling KL Rahul to get in his groove. He beat Rahul’s bat on multiple occasions. In his second over, the 29-year-old delivered a peach of a delivery, where Rahul got completely opened up as the ball swung away from him sharply. Soon, the blow finally landed as Nabi eventually induced an edge off Rahul’s bat.
It was a good length delivery targeted at stumps. While it didn’t seamed away but held its line to surprise Rahul. Again, he was opened up with his right leg uprooting from its place. There was the slightest of a nick. While the umpire gave it a not out, the J&K captain Paras Dogra reviewed and what followed was utter jubilation from the J&K camp.
The Indian Test opener is Nabi’s 56 victim in this Ranji Trophy 2025/26 campaign. The exciting pacer may not have express pace in him. But averaging less than 13 in an entire Ranji Trophy season as a pace bowler is no joke. If Jammu & Kashmir do end up lifting their maiden crown, Nabi might be the biggest force behind it.
