Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi became one of the biggest stories from the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. Delhi Capitals roped in the uncapped pacer for a staggering Rs 8.40 crore. Nabi, who has been turning heads with his performances in the domestic circuit, finally reaped the rewards of his hard work as Delhi signed him after an intense bidding war with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
When Nabi was an up-and-coming pacer trying to make his mark in the senior Jammu & Kashmir team, it was former India pacer Irfan Pathan who wrote an email to the state association and requested them to invest in the young talent despite lean returns. Since then, it has been an upward trajectory for Nabi. No pacer has picked up as many wickets — 73 — as Nabi has since the start of the 2024 Ranji Trophy season. This season, he has taken 29 wickets in just nine innings.
Labelling him as a “workhorse”, Pathan was ecstatic for the speedster. “So happy for him. He loves bowling. He is a bowling workhorse. Bowls straight seam with solid control, and that’s what impressed me the most when I picked him up as the mentor of Jammu & Kashmir,” Pathan told RevSportz.
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Nabi had attended trials for Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Nabi bagged 11 wickets in five matches. His journey will reach a new high when he represents Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026.
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