FROM VILLAGE LANES TO DULEEP TROPHY: Auqib Nabi’s remarkable rise

Srinagar, Sep 4: Sheri, a small village in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, is no stranger to cricket. For the first time in the history of Jammu & Kashmir cricket, a pacer from this village, Auqib Nabi, etched his name into one of India’s premier domestic tournaments with a feat few bowlers in India have ever achieved, a hat-trick and then four wickets in four consecutive balls in the Duleep Trophy.

Auqib’s spell was more than just numbers on a scorecard. It was history. It was proof that raw speed from Kashmir’s cold valleys could rattle the stumps of some of India’s finest domestic batters.

Spell That Shook Duleep Trophy

Representing North Zone, the 28-year-old right-arm medium pacer turned the East Zone clash on its head. What followed was a searing display of control and aggression, a hat-trick by Auqib Nabi dismantled the middle order, followed by a fourth wicket off the very next ball. By the end of his spell, East Zone’s resistance had crumbled, and the cricketing fraternity was forced to take notice of the quiet pacer from J&K.

“It felt surreal,” Auqib later said to Greater Kashmir. “You always dream of a five-wicket haul in a big tournament, but to get four in four balls that’s something you don’t even imagine.”

Father Who Once Tied Him with a Rope

Success stories often have unlikely beginnings, and Auqib’s is no different. As a child, he would sneak out of his home to play cricket for hours, often returning to a furious father who saw little future in the game. At one point, his father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, tied him to a rope to stop him from playing.

“I wanted him to become a doctor,” his father recalls with a chuckle now. “I thought cricket was just a distraction. I never imagined he would one day make history for J&K,” said Dar while speaking to Greater Kashmir on his son's performance.

Years later, the same father is his biggest supporter, watching every game, every spell.

From Sheri to First-Class Arena

Born on November 4, 1996, Auqib’s journey began on uneven grounds. He broke into the professional circuit through persistence, making his List A debut in 2018 against Haryana, his T20 debut in 2019 against Jharkhand, and his First-Class debut in January 2020 against Jharkhand. Since then, he has become one of J&K’s most consistent performers.

Auqib has played 30 First-Class (FC) matches, claiming 95 wickets at an average of 21.25, with best figures of 6/53. In List A career he has played 29 matches, with 42 wickets at an average of 28.88. He has also played 27 T20 matches, picking 28 wickets at an average of 26.39.

With an ability to swing the ball both ways and bowl long spells, the special bowling skills have made him a key figure in J&K’s bowling arsenal.

Breakthrough Season

The 2023–24 domestic season was a turning point. Auqib ended the season with 44 wickets, the highest for any J&K pacer and second-highest among pacers across India. The Duleep Trophy hat-trick only solidified his growing reputation.

For a region that has produced talented cricketers like Parvez Rasool, Abdul Samad, and Umran Malik, Auqib’s achievement adds another dimension, the art of classical red-ball fast bowling, often the toughest domain for pacers to excel in.

Message for Young Cricketers

“Dream big, but work harder than your dreams,” Auqib says when asked what advice he would give to young boys from Kashmir chasing the red ball. “Nothing comes easy. Talent will open the door, hard work will keep it open.”

Eyes on Future

At 28, Auqib is entering the prime of his career. His next goal is clear, to play and play and make a case for higher honours.

What Next for J&K Cricket

Auqib’s feat will surely inspire a new generation of cricketers in the valley. But there are bigger questions about infrastructure, about exposure, and about how the region nurtures its rare talents. For now, though, the spotlight rightly belongs to him.

As the Duleep Trophy marches on, one thing is certain, when future generations talk of historic spells in this tournament, the name Auqib Nabi will be spoken with respect and perhaps in the same breath as the giants of Indian domestic cricket.