The final match of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 is being played between Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka in Hubballi. In this match, the Jammu team appears to be in a very strong position. This is credited to their batting and then Auqib Nabi's lethal bowling. Jammu's batters put up a strong performance, scoring 584, and later bowling out Karnataka for 293 runs. In this way, they gained an important lead of 291 runs. The credit for bundling Karnataka out cheaply goes to Jammu's bowlers, with Auqib taking a five-wicket haul with his deadly bowling.

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was impressed by Auqib Nabi's bowling performance in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka. Ganguly praised Auqib and urged Team India Secretary Devjit Saikia and Chairman of the Selection Committee Ajit Agarkar to consider Nabi for the national team.

See Also: Watch: Auqib Nabi celebrates 5-fer vs Karnataka in Ranji Trophy 2025/26 final

Dada even said that the England tour in the summer will be the best opportunity for this fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir to debut. Let us tell you that India has to tour England in July, which includes 5 T20s and 3 ODIs.

Sourav Ganguly praised Jammu and Kashmir and Auqib Nabi

On Friday, February 27, Sourav Ganguly tweeted on the social media platform X, praising the Jammu and Kashmir team for their excellent performance in the Ranji Trophy final, and then talked about Auqib Nabi being selected in Team India soon.

Ganguly wrote: 

“J&K has shown the world what effort and intent can do ..They have made that region so proud of them .. tuff environment makes tuff people. Aqib nabi on his way to national colours .. england is the place to start in the summer @bcci @imAagarkar @lonsaikia."

J&K has shown the world what effort and intent can do ..They have made that region so proud of them .. tuff environment makes tuff people. Aqib nabi on his way to national colours .. england is the place to start in the summer @bcci @imAagarkar @lonsaikia

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 27, 2026

In the Ranji Trophy final, where Karnataka's bowlers seemed to struggle, Auqib Nabi mesmerized everyone with his bowling. Nabi took 5 wickets for 54 runs in 23 overs, including the wickets of key batters like KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, and R Samaran. It was due to Nabi's lethal bowling that the Jammu team took the lead based on the first innings. Now, if the match ends in a draw, Jammu & Kashmir will be declared the winner of the current Ranji Trophy season.  

Talking about Auqib Nabi, he has become the highest wicket-taker of this Ranji season. He claimed 60 wickets in 17 innings. Earlier, in the previous season, he had taken 44 wickets.

For the entire Ranji Trophy 2025/26, the focus, with the ball, has been on the right-arm pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, Auqib Nabi, who has shouldered the attack several times in the tournament. Whenever a partnership has grown, Nabi has used his several skills and expertise to bowl in the right line and length to dismiss the batter and bring them back in the clash. 

During the final, Auqib Nabi again came to the party as he celebrated a fine five-wicket haul at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground. He drew the first blood with the wicket of KL Rahul. It was a skiddy back of a length delivery on the off stump as it straightened after landing to square the batter and grabbed the outside edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper.

See Also: Watch: ‘Not slogger…’- Ravichandran Ashwin roasts Mohammad Amir for comment on Abhishek Sharma in T20 World Cup 2026

He bowled a beauty to Karun Nair for a nine-ball duck as it came angled in initially with the natural over the wicket angle but seamed away just enough to put the batter in a tangle. Nair played down the original line in an attempt to deal with it as it whistled past the edge and broke the stumps.

Auqib Nabi celebrates 5/54 in Ranji Trophy 2025/26 final 

On the very next delivery, Nabi got Smaran Ravichandran for a golden duck. It was a back-of-a-length delivery in the channel from round the wicket. It pitched and straightened a bit to open the batter and got the outside edge. On the fourth day’s play, he grabbed the massive wicket of inform opener, Mayank Agarwal, for 160 runs.

Watch the video here: 

Five-wicket haul ✅
6️⃣0️⃣ wickets in the season ✅

🎥 The delivery that sealed yet another fifer for Auqib Nabi and made him the leading wicket-taker of the #RanjiTrophy 2025-26 season 🫡

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/G0ytZLEyNB@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/BrkJfWXhTN

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 27, 2026

It was a good length delivery that seemed sharply from outside the off stump. The ball stepped down as it rose on his toes a bit as he tried to work it across, but got beaten on the inside edge and was struck on the knee roll. The replay confirmed the three reds.

Nabi ended with figures of 5/54 in 23 overs as Karnataka got dismissed for 293 runs in reply to Jammu and Kashmir’s 584 runs. The J&K side took a lead of 291 runs in the first innings before losing two wickets for 11 runs before the lunch break.

Brief Scores: J&K 584 (Shubham Pundir 121, Yawer Hassan 88, Prasidh Krishna 5/98) & 11/2 (Qamran Iqbal 6*, Prasidh Krishna 1/4) lead Karnataka 293 (Mayank Agarwal 160, Auqib Nabi 5/54) by 302 runs.

The story of Auqib Nabi who emerged from the Jammu and Kashmir valleys to achieve national fame stands as an inspiring example of Indian domestic cricket. The right-arm pacer developed his bowling skills through determination because he lacked access to proper training facilities and faced multiple challenges. He gained recognition as a swing bowler who performs well in challenging situations.

Current Ranji Trophy season brought about a fundamental transformation

Nabi became the key player for Jammu & Kashmir during their historic tournament run by delivering multiple match-winning bowling performances. His ability to strike early and perform reverse bowling in critical moments helped his team reach their first Ranji Trophy final which made him a national sensation.

The excitement reached new heights when the Board of Control for Cricket in India shared their touching mini film "Auqib, Arc and the Art of Swing" with the public. The video showed his progression from Sheeri village in Baramulla to domestic stardom while demonstrating the sacrifices and discipline and resilience he needed to achieve success. Many fans perceived the tribute as an introduction to the upcoming India call-up.

Watch the video:

𝗔𝘂𝗾𝗶𝗯, 𝗔𝗿𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 💥

The Auqib Nabi story 📝

Coming 🔜#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/IhcjmxSmBB

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 22, 2026

ALSO SEE: Watch: Quinton de Kock’s massive statement on India’s squad ahead of Super 8 clash in T20 World Cup 2026

And the numbers only strengthen that belief

Nabi achieved 55 wickets during the current season with an exceptional average of 12.72 which included his six five-wicket hauls. His first-class record now shows 151 wickets at an average of 18.62 which represents exceptional achievement according to all standards. The three elements of performance abilities and character have developed together throughout this time.

Jammu & Kashmir now prepare for the grand finale against the Karnataka cricket team, with history within touching distance. The season reached its peak with a championship victory because Nabi established new standards for success which he achieved through his performance.

Nabi will make his India debut in either this year or next year because his current status has moved from potential to actual success at the highest level.

Jammu and Kashmir's stellar performance in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 led to their defeating two-time defending champions Bengal by 6 wickets in the second semi-final, bringing them to their First Ranji Trophy final. 

Ranji Trophy 2025-26 2nd semi-final was played between Jammu & Kashmir and Bengal at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani on Wednesday. Jammu & Kashmir won the match thanks to an all-round performance from Auqib Nabi. He scored 42 runs and took 9 wickets. He was awarded Player of the Match. Jammu & Kashmir will now face Karnataka in the final. Karnataka is expected to win the 1st semi-final against Uttarakhand.

See Also: Jammu and Kashmir beat Bengal by six wickets to reach their maiden Ranji Trophy 2026 final

As soon as the Jammu team secured its place in the final, the players in the dugout ran onto the field, hugging each other and congratulating each other. A video of this celebration is going viral on social media.

Watch Video:

RAW EMOTIONS 🥹❤️

JAMMU & KASHMIR INTO THE RANJI TROPHY FINAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY..!!!! pic.twitter.com/9nkVKfNa4G

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2026

Clinical bowling and alm shase seal maiden final berth for Jammu & Kashmir

In this match, Bengal batted first and posted 328 runs on the board. Sudip Gharami scored 146 runs for Bengal in the first innings. In reply, Jammu & Kashmir scored 302 runs in the second innings thanks to Skipper Paras Dogra and Abdul Samad's half-century.In the third Innings, Auqib Nabi Dar and Sunil Kumar's lethal bowling bowled out Bengal to a modest total of 99 runs. Both took four wickets each. Jammu and Kashmir got a target of 126 runs in the 4th innings. Chasing the target, Jammu & Kashmir also had a poor start, losing both openers at 12 runs. However, Vanshaj Sharma's unbeaten 43 and Abdul Samad's 30-off-27 balls propelled Jammu and Kashmir to their first Ranji Trophy final.

Auqib Nabi has been a consistent performer for Jammu & Kashmir throughout the  tournament. He played a crucial role against MP in the quarter-final. Now, Jammu and Kashmir will most likely lock horns with Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy Final, which is scheduled to be played on 24 February 2026.

When Jammu and Kashmir were put into bat first during the quarter-final clash of the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 seasonat the Holkar Stadium in Indore, they needed to put up a strong score on the board. But they got rolled over for just 194 runs on the board in 67 overs, which then required a strong bowling performance from the J&K to keep them in the clash. 

Auqib Nabi stood out on the second day of the clash as he drew the first blood with the wicket of Harsh Gawli for 10 runs with a beautiful inswinger as the ball jagged back to hit the right-handed batter’s pad. The second wicket came two balls later when he trapped Himanshu Mantri leg before the stumps. 

See Also: Watch: ‘Idhar accha nehi lag rha..’- Rohit Sharma reflects to Indian players during IND vs USA T20 WC 2026 match

Nabi got the outside stump of the MP captain, Rajat Patidar, into the hands of the gully fielder before breaking the stand with the vital wicket of Venkatesh Iyer on 22 runs as the ball held its line and went straight to find the outside edge of the southpaw.

Auqib Nabi records 7/40 in Ranji Trophy 2025/26 quarter-final 

Against Aryan Pandey, Nabi went outside the box and kept him in the channel of the off-stump to get the outside edge of the right-handed batter for a second-ball duck. On the very next delivery, he showed his smartness and claimed the wicket of Ramveer Gujjar, who was trapped leg before the stumps, having put his body weight on the back foot, waiting for the short ball.

Watch the video here: 

Sumptuous Seven 🔥

Watch 📽️

Rampant Auqib Nabi's skillful spell of 7/40 against Madhya Pradesh that helped his team take a crucial first-innings lead 👌

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/jKbUTUi1lO#RanjiTrophy| @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/NSSuLMnYnb

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 8, 2026

His seventh and last wicket of the spell came in the form of Kumar Kartikeya, who got the ball high in the air and ended up being caught by Sunil Kumar as Nabi ended with figures of 7/40 in 18.4 overs at an economy rate of just over two.

Nabi is currently the third leading wicket-taker of the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season with 41 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 12.36 and a strike rate of 29.46 with the help of four five-wicket hauls and one four-wicket haul. Madhya Pradesh got rolled over for 152.

Brief Scores: J&K 194 (Shubham Khajuria 60, Kuldeep Sen 5/66) & 188/9 (Abid Mushtaq 41, Kuldeep Sen 4/65) lead MP 152 (Yash Dubey 58, Auqib Nabi 7/40) by 230 runs.

The seventh and last round of the group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 saw the eight teams that will take on each other in the quarterfinal three days later. Karnataka will be up against Mumbai, take on Karnataka, while Uttar Pradesh will face Saurashtra on January 12. Meanwhile, Delhi will be up against Vidarbha while Punjab will face Madhya Pradesh on the very next day.

Karnataka’s Devdutt Padikkal ended the group stage as the leading run-getter with 640 runs in seven innings at an average of 91.42 and a strike rate of 102.56, thanks to his four centuries and 150 at the base score of 147.

A look at the top 5 batting performances from Day 7 of Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26

1.   Ruturaj Gaikwad (Maharashtra)

Against Goa, Maharashtra faced an ominous start, losing three wickets for two runs in the second over, and soon were reduced to 52/6 in the 21st over as captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was needed to shoulder them to a respectable total. The right-handed batter who was recently ignored for the Home ODI series against New Zealand ended with a fine knock of unbeaten 134 runs in just 131 balls. The next best score of the top six was five.

The knock was decorated with eight boundaries and six sixes at a strike rate of over 100 as they ended up with 249 for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 50 overs, besides a contribution of 53 runs from number eight, Vicky Ostwal.

Brief Scores: Maharashtra 249/7 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 134*, Vasuki Koushik 3/38) beat Goa 244/9 (Lalit Yadav 57, Prashant Solanki 4/56) by 5-runs. 

2.   Sridam Paul (Tripura)

Tripura’s number four batter, Sridam Paul, has got a decent start in List A cricket with an average of 30 in 12 innings, thanks to his five half-centuries, two of which were part of this ongoing VHT season. However, again in Jharkhand in Ahmedabad, the right-handed batter posted his maiden century in the format. This came at a crucial situation when they were 20/3 in the fifth over.

Paul ended up with 150 runs in 134 balls with the help of 13 boundaries and six sixes at a strike rate of 111.94 in a partnership of 258 runs for the fourth wicket with Rajat Dey, who himself celebrated his century to take them to 320 in their allotted 50 overs.

Brief Scores: Tripura 320 (Sridam Paul 150, Rajat Dey 102, Sushant Mishra 6/52) beat Jharkhand 123 (Manishi 40, Abhijit Sarkar 4/40) by 197 runs.

3.   Auqib Nabi Dar (Jammu and Kashmir)

Jammu and Kashmir’s Auqib Nabi Dar has impressed the entire world with his excellent swing bowling as he got signed in the Indian Premier League. But he has now also displayed his excellent batting performances during the game against Hyderabad, where he played a jaw-dropping knock under pressure.

See Also: Harry Brook faces disciplinary action over bouncer clash ahead of Ashes 2025/26

When he walked out to bat, Jammu and Kashmir had already lost six wickets for 78 runs in their massive chase of 269 runs before Nabi posted a massive partnership of 182 runs and ended up with an unbeaten 114 in just 82 balls at a strike rate of nearly 140, thanks to his ten boundaries and seven sixes to complete the chase by three wickets.

Brief Scores: Jammu and Kashmir 272/7 (Auqib Nabi Dar 114*, Mohammad Siraj 2/45) beat Hyderabad 268/9 (Aman Perala 60, Nabi 3/56) by 3-wickets.  

4.   Dhruv Jurel (Uttar Pradesh)

When Dhruv Jurel blasted a fine knock of 160 against Baroda, it was enough to knock the doors of the selectors through his inclusion in India’s ODI side as a wicket-keeper batter. He continued the purple patch with two more half-centuries in our next three clashes before celebrating a fine knock of 123 runs.

When Bengal set a target of 270 runs, it was important for one of the Uttar Pradesh batters to stand till the end to see off the chase. The Rajasthan Royals batted did the same and ended up with that knock at a strike rate of one to eight with the help of nine boundaries and five sixes to complete the chase by five wickets with a little less than 8 / 2 spare.

Brief Scores: Uttar Pradesh 272/5 (Dhruv Jurel 123, Aryan Juyal 56, Akash Deep 1/27) beat Bengal 269 (Sudip Gharami 94, Zeeshan Ansari 3/33) by 5-wickets.

5.   Narayan Jagadeesan (Tamil Nadu)

Narayan Jagadeesan, the 30-year-old Tamil Nadu batter who got a chance for the fifth Test as a replacement for Rishabh Pant against England, is also knocking on the door in India’s white-ball formats, especially ODIs, for that position. It has been a roller coaster campaign for the opening batter, who got two half-centuries and two ducks in his last four innings of the competition.

Jagadeesan ended up with 139 runs in 126 balls at a strike rate of more than 110 with the help of nine boundaries and five sixes during their clash against Kerala, which helped them to post a massive score of 294. In reply, Kerala got bundled out for 217 as the opposition claimed the victory by 77 runs.

Brief Scores: Tamil Nadu 294/8 (Narayan Jagadeesan 139, Eden Apple Tom 6/46) beat Kerala 217 (Rohan Kunnummal 73, Mohammad Ali 4/36) by 77 runs.

The pace-bowling all-rounder from Jammu & Kashmir, Auqib Nabi, has stunned in the IPL 2026 mini auction, as Delhi Capitals have secured the all-rounder for INR 8.40 crore, one of the most expensive uncapped players in the history of IPL auctions. 

IPL 2026 mini-auction: Delhi Capitals won bidding war for Auqib Nabi

Delhi Capitals started the bidding for the 29-year-old right-arm medium pacer and right-handed batter, Auqib Nabi. Although Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and SunRisers Hyderabad fought in that bidding war, Delhi Capitals ultimately won that battle and secured the all-rounder Auqib Nabi. 

Auqib Nabi made his domestic cricket debut in September 2018 during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He is now a popular Jammu & Kashmir cricketer, who is ready to experience his maiden IPL season, as the Delhi Capitals have secured him for the IPL 2026 season. 

See Also: Who is Kartik Sharma who was sold to Chennai Super Kings at Rs 14.20 Cr in IPL 2026 auction?

Here, we will go through Auqib Nabi's some memorable moments in cricket career

• In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Auqib finished as the joint second most wicket-taker with 44 wickets in 15 innings with an average of 13.93. 
• In the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy, North Zone Auqib recorded a hat-trick against East Zone by securing four wickets in four straight balls during the second innings of the match.
• In the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match against Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir player Auqib played an all-round role for his team's victory by an innings and 41 runs. In that game, he scored 55 runs and also recorded a 10-fer (3/29 and 7/24), including his best bowling figures in an innings in first class career. 
• In the ongoing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, Auqib is in the second position in the list of most wickets with 29 wickets in nine innings.
• In the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Auqib recorded 15 wickets in seven matches.

Only a few days to go before the IPL 2026 auction, a mini auction ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Ahead of the event. There are multiple uncapped Indian players who caught attention through their performances in domestic cricket. We will discuss 5 such uncapped Indian cricketers who can spark a bidding fight in the auction.

Uncapped Indians who can raise a bidding war in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction:

1. Auqib Nabi:

For the last couple of weeks, Nabi has remained as one of the most discussed uncapped Indian cricketers. The pacer from Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as one of the most lethal seamers in the recent past. With controlled pace and swing, Nabi has developed himself as a regular wicket-taker for his state team. In the last 5 matches, he took 11 wickets in total. According to speculations, multiple franchises can show their interest in him during the auction.

2. Ravichandran Smaran:

Ravichandran Smaran is not only a big hitter, but also a dependable run-scorer. In this year, the batter from Karnataka has grown as one of the best scorers in Indian domestic cricket. During the Ranji Trophy 2025, he showed his resilience and batting technique, and in the domestic T20 format, he displayed his ability to accumulate runs in a quick manner. The 22-year-old has all the potential to become an asset for an IPL team.

Read More: IND vs SA 2nd T20I: India vs South Africa highlightes and key performances

3. Manisankar Murasingh:

An underrated but must-watch name in the list. If someone is looking for a prolific all-rounder, then Manisankar may be a perfect candidate to rope in for at least one IPL season. If he is able to continue his domestic performance in higher stages, then the Tripura-born can be a lethal weapon for any team. Behind the surprising performance of Tripura in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Murasingh appeared as a positive catalyst in the team. Against Karnataka, he took a brace and scored 69.

4. Kunal Chandela:

The skipper of Uttarakhand is currently the top run scorer in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, as he scored 350 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of over 150 in seven matches. The right-hander, with a base price of only INR 30 Lakhs, can easily initiate a bidding war in the auction room. Teams who want to secure the service of a top-order batter who can shine at the number 3 position can easily consider Kunal Chandela as an ideal candidate.

5. Ashok Sharma:

Ashok Kumar is a well-knwon pace bowler in Indian domestic cricket who served as the net bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals in the past has been constantly taking wickets for Rajasthan in the T20 format. Sharma was a part of Rajasthan Royals during the IPL 2025 season. With his standout performances in recent domestic matches, he is worth being in the first XI of an IPL team. In the last 5 matches for Rajasthan, the seamer picked up 14 wickets in total.

Jammu and Kashmir stunned Maharashtra on November 26, the opening day of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 (SMAT 2025) tournament. J&K defeated the star-studded Maharashtra cricket team by 5 wickets. Auqib Nabi's brilliant bowling is one of the main reasons behind J&K's dominating performance. 

Maharashtra went to bat first at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and immediately felt in trouble as their top order collapsed completely. Prithvi Shaw, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, and experienced batter Rahul Tripathi lost their wickets cheaply. In 5 overs, Maharashtra was down by 3 wickets. Collective effort from their middle- and lower-middle-order batters pushed the total to 130 runs against all ten wickets in 19.5 overs. Auqib Nabi took 3 wickets in the process. 

Maharashtra sustained the first blow when Nabi, a pacer, took the wicket of Shaw. Abdul Samad's diving catch helped Jammu and Kashmir to get rid of the opener. Vicky Ostwal, with 21 runs, was Maharashtra's top run scorer of the match and also lost his wicket against the emerging pacer. In the following delivery, Nabi bowled out Prashant Solanki on the 5th delivery of the 20th over of the first innings. In his 3.5-over spell, Auqib picked up 3 wickets, leaking only 28 runs. 

Watch the 3-wicket spell here

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Auqib Nabi (@auqib_nabi)

Read More: Pakistan Spinner Abrar Ahmed Joins Chattogram Royals for BPL 2026

Who is Auqib Nabi? 

Ahead of the IPPL 2026 mini auction, Auqib Nabi is one of the most discussed names among Indian cricket fans on social media platforms. It was previously reported that for the 29-year-old seamer, franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) can express their interest during the auction. 2025 has been proving a dream year for Nabi, as he has been bowling constantly well for Jammu and Kashmir.

During the Mumbai vs. J&K match, Nabi took 5 wickets in the second innings after getting 2 wickets in the first innings. In the second innings, the pacer clinched Musheer Khan, Ajinkya Rahane, Siddhesh Lad, Sarfaraz Khan, and Tanush Kotian from the wicket. Despite the remarkable bowling from Auqib and brilliant batting from Paras Dogra, J&K captain, they lost the match by 35 runs to Mumbai. 

Auqib Nabi's bowling performance in the last 5 matches: 

Jammu and Kashmir vs Maharashtra: 3/28
Jammu and Kashmir vs Hyderabad: 4/39 & 1/19
Jammu and Kashmir vs Delhi: 5/35 & 0/43
Jammu and Kashmir vs Chhattisgarh: 2/90
Jammu and Kashmir vs Rajasthan: 3/29 & 7/24