Chennai: Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi has etched his name in the record books with a sensational performance in the ongoing Duleep Trophy match between North Zone and East Zone. The 28-year-old fast bowler from North Kashmir’s Baramulla returned figures of 5/28 in 10.1 overs, which included the rare feat of claiming four wickets in four consecutive balls, a milestone achieved by only four other Indians in first-class cricket history.
The match, which began on August 28, saw North Zone post a total of 405 in their first innings. In reply, East Zone faltered against disciplined bowling, folding for just 230. The highlight of the innings was Nabi’s magical spell, where he dismantled the tail with raw pace and accuracy, becoming the backbone of North Zone’s dominance in the game.
Auqib Nabi’s journey to this moment has been remarkable. A product of Baramulla, he began his cricket with casual tennis-ball games before gradually moving into the professional circuit. Supported throughout by his father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, a school teacher, Nabi went on to represent Jammu & Kashmir at various junior levels before making his List-A debut in 2018 during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In that match, he shared the field with seasoned campaigners like Irfan Pathan and Parvez Rasool and made an immediate impact by picking three wickets.
His breakthrough in first-class cricket came in the 2019–20 Ranji Trophy against Jharkhand. Though wicketless in the first innings, Nabi stunned in the second, claiming 5/38 to script an innings victory for Jammu & Kashmir. Since then, he has steadily grown into one of the most potent pacers on the domestic circuit.
During the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, Nabi emerged as one of the season’s standout bowlers. He scalped 44 wickets in eight matches at an average of just 13.93, including six five-wicket hauls. This record-breaking tally surpassed Parvez Rasool’s earlier mark for most wickets in a single season by a J&K bowler.
In List-A cricket too, Nabi has been consistent, claiming 42 wickets in 29 matches with two four-wicket hauls to his name.
His recent Duleep Trophy heroics have brought him into the national spotlight and highlighted the growing cricketing talent pool from Jammu & Kashmir. Cricket analysts have noted that his ability to swing the ball both ways, combined with his sharp pace, makes him one of the most exciting fast bowling prospects in the country.
With his latest achievement, Auqib Nabi not only brought glory to North Zone but also gave cricket fans in Jammu & Kashmir a moment of immense pride. [KNT]
