If Jammu and Kashmir’s maiden Ranji Trophy title win was a collective team effort then the main architect behind the successful campaign was their star pacer Auqib Nabi, who ripped through the star-studded Karnataka batting lineup with a five-for.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas said that the selectors would be tracking Nabi’s performances in the domestic season and hopefully the J&K pacer would soon get an India call-up.
J&K won their maiden Ranji Trophy title after their final against Karnataka ended in a draw on the basis of the first innings lead. Nabi ended the season with 60 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 12.56, including two four-fers and seven five-wicket hauls and best figures of 7 for 24. He too made useful contribution with the bat, scoring 245 runs.
He really stepped up in the knockout stage where in the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh he bagged the Player of the Match award for his 12-wicket haul, which included a seven-for. Then in the semifinal against Bengal, Nabi wass again the Player of the Match for claiming a nine-wicket haul, including a five-for and made 42 runs with the bat.
“He has been doing exceedingly well, not only this year, I think last year he also, you know, he did exceedingly well last year as well and he’s been a consistent performer, not only in first-class cricket, but in other formats as well. And I am sure he will get his reward, the way he has been performing. And I’m sure the selectors are keeping a close watch on Auqib. And I am sure you know, he will get his chances,” Manhas told ANI.
Auqib has enjoyed a breakthrough year in domestic cricket and has barely put a foot wrong.
In the Syed Ali Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), he was among the standout bowlers, picking up 15 wickets at an impressive average of 13.26 and an economy of 7.41 per over. His best figures in SMAT was 4 for 16.
He carried that form into the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the 50-over tournament, where he claimed 14 wickets in seven matches. This time, he averaged 22.85 and had an economy rate of 5.76, with 4 for 52 as his best figures.
Such consistent performances in domestic cricket did not go unnoticed. At the IPL auction last year, Delhi Capitals bagged him for a whopping Rs 8.40 crore after a fierce bidding battle that also involved Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
