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4 min readFeb 18, 2026 12:02 AM IST
Jammu and Kashmir's Auqib Nabi plays a shot during the third day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal match between Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground, in Kalyani, West Bengal. (PTI Photo)
His 83-year-old grandmother, a cricket fanatic in Baramulla, had first patted Auqib Nabi on the back, for landing an IPL stint with Delhi Capitals at last year’s auctions. And then promptly proceeded to tell Jammu & Kashmir’s superbly skilled and consistent pacer, that the highest glory would be to play for the Indian national team.
On the cusp of taking J&K into a historic Ranji Trophy final — though they are a good 83 runs away from the target of 126 at 43/2 at Kalyani — Auqib has set his sights on an even higher goal — an India Test spot. Not just donning the white-ball Blues and doing well in the IPL, but the ultimate dream, encouraged by his grandmother, nurtured by his classical-cricket loving teacher-parents, and followed through by the man himself.
All cricketing targets have at the outset, always seemed impossible, for the pacer, who took 9 wickets in the semis against Bengal including a 5-87 in 26 long overs in the first innings, and also added a handy 42 off 54 batting at No 9. So a Ranji final joins a long list of ‘impossibles’ J&K have ticked off, as Auqib, now 29, adds the Test spot to that list. Baramulla wasn’t exactly a boulevard of broken stumps even 4 seasons back, but the natural outswing bowler, quickly expanded his repertoire to start moving the ball both ways, aided by a wrist position that had reminded J&K bowling coach P Krishna Kumar, the first instance he saw him, of Mohammed Shami.
In a quirk of fate, Shami who has already snared 8 wickets in the first innings as J&K finished on 302 after Bengal posted 328, stands in the way of the team making a historic final. “Auqib’s wrist position was like Shami’s, extremely tough for batsmen to pick,” the coach would tell The Indian Express back then. Since then, the pacer and coach have worked on his strength, on cranking up the speed, bowling close to the stumps, and the release action for the in-swing.
Auqib who had confessed his admiration for Dale Steyn — modelling his aggressive outswinger on the South African — has always been one for long, painstaking spells on the back of his natural stamina, and the ability to suddenly produce a devilish whizzer. Against Bengal, he sent back captain Abhimanyu Easwaran both times (49 & 5), but his scalps also included centurion Sudip Kumar Gharami (146), early on Day 2 after J&K took the new ball to make use of the morning moisture.
File image of Auqib Nabi from August 2025. (PTI Photo)
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J&K had been acutely aware of the presence of two India Test players in Bengal’s ranks – Shami ofcourse, but also England hero Akash Deep. But the team was determined to not be overwhelmed. The IPL auction happened along the way, but Auqib had already set the stage for a rewarding season, where he has now tallied 53 wickets.
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Picked for North Zone last year, Auqib had already brought his calm temperament to an earlier sticky situation.
Batting in pursuit of 269 against Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare, J&K found themselves at 90/7. Auqib was padded up pretty early when the third wicket fell and the coach asked him, “Abhi jaoge batting ko ya baad mein?” “Abhi jaunga Sir,” (Will you go to bat now or later? I will bat now.) he had said. Auqib would score a century that day and pull the long faces in the dressing room out of their funk. The team had reckoned another special season was underway, perhaps better than their best-ever quarterfinals entry last year. Auqib, never a mug with the bat, once again helped add 80 for the last three wickets against Bengal, before Sunil Kumar (4-27), Yudhvir (2-29) and Auqib (4-36) skittled them for 99 in the second innings.
83 is still tricky, with Shami in good nick. But Auqib and J&K’s dream has taken flight. Nabi will hope the selectors did not miss the mirroring action of Shami’s wrist in the J&K team.
Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More
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