From the dusty playfields of Sheeri village in Baramulla to the pinnacle of domestic cricket, Auqib Nabi’s journey is a testament to unyielding resolve. His story is not just about cricket. It is about a boy from North Kashmir refusing to let geography decide his destiny.
Early Life and Family Background
Auqib Nabi was born on 4 November 1996 in Sheeri, Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir. His father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, is a schoolteacher who places a strong focus on education. Cricket was never the obvious path. His father initially wanted him to study medicine, but Nabi’s commitment to fast bowling finally convinced him.
Auqib started his journey from the narrow lanes and makeshift pitches of Sheeri, honing his skills with the local cricket team Sheeri Star before moving to BCC Reds and then breaking into state-level cricket. Resources were nearly non-existent. At his first trial in Jammu, Auqib learned he needed spikes to bowl. “I was shocked. I was wearing sports shoes worth Rs 500,” he recalled. He borrowed spikes from a senior player.
ALSO READ: Who is Prashant Veer Full Story and IPL 2026 Journey
The Trials That Almost Broke Him
He once failed back-to-back three trials trying to make his way into Jammu and Kashmir’s state team. His father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, recalled that Auqib simply refused to stop. “Auqib attended the trials three times and failed. But he did not give up and attended a trial for the fourth time and was selected.” That stubborn belief became the foundation of everything that followed.
Nabi moved to nearby Baramulla town for high school, which provided him a foundation to work on his basic skills. But it was only after he went to Amar Singh College in Srinagar for undergraduate studies that he found proper turf pitches to practice on.
ALSO READ: The Real Journey of Mangesh Yadav From Village Life to IPL
Domestic Cricket Rise
Auqib made his List A debut in the 2018-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, his T20 debut in the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and his first-class debut in January 2020. From there, his numbers grew season after season. In the 2024-25 Ranji season, Auqib topped the national charts among pacers with 44 wickets at a staggering average of 13.93, outperforming seasoned bowlers across teams.
The 2025-26 season was even more historic. Known as the “Baramulla Express,” Nabi played a significant role in Jammu and Kashmir’s success. He picked up 60 wickets in 10 matches, including a fifer in the final against Karnataka, finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the season. He also became the first bowler in Duleep Trophy history to take four wickets in four consecutive deliveries. J&K ended a 67-year wait for their first Ranji Trophy title, and Nabi was named Player of the Series.
IPL 2026 Auction Breakthrough
Starting from a base price of Rs 30 lakh, Delhi Capitals opened the bidding before Rajasthan Royals briefly joined in. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad then entered the race. The contest intensified between DC and SRH as the bid crossed Rs 7 crore, before SRH pulled out, allowing Delhi Capitals to seal the deal at Rs 8.40 crore.
Nabi was the most expensive Indian bowler, capped or uncapped, at the mini-auction. He became the third pacer from Jammu and Kashmir to feature in the IPL after Umran Malik and Yudhvir Singh Charak.
Back in Sheeri, the village erupted. Fazi Begum, Auqib’s grandmother, said she had once told him that she wished to see him on television before her death. “I am happy today. He has worked extremely hard, sometimes even going without food,” she said.
ALSO READ: IPL 2026 Uncapped Indian Players with Inspiring Stories
What Lies Ahead
At Delhi Capitals, Auqib will have the opportunity to learn alongside Australia’s Mitchell Starc, one of the finest swing bowlers in world cricket. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has already praised Auqib and said he is on his way to national colours, suggesting England in the summer as the ideal place for him to start.
“When I started taking cricket seriously, my sole aim was to represent India. Coming from Baramulla, even thinking about playing for your country is a big thing. Now, my only goal is to play for India,” Auqib has said.
His father echoed the same dream simply: “He has been part of one dream, there is one more to go —the dream to play for the country. Keep visiting CricThugs for more such inspiring stories.
Lucky Raina is a complete cricket writer chasing corporate dreams by day and cricket stories by night. Once a promising Under 16 cricketer, life took him down a different pitch but the love for the game never left.
