‘Perseverance Pays’ is an old saying, but still relevant to this day. Auqib Nabi Dar, the medium pacer from Jammu & Kashmir is a mighty strong exponent of this saying.
Years and years of hard labour with the red ball on batting-friendly pitches in domestic cricket, Auqib eventually got the selectors’ nod to represent India in the Test Series against Sri Lanka.
With consistent performances, Auqib was not just knocking on the doors of National Selection but had brought the door down with some exceptional bowling in the last couple of years. The stats said it all.
The 29-year-old right-arm pacer was the chief architect of J&K’s historic maiden Ranji Trophy triumph (2025–26 season), leading the tournament with 60 wickets at a stunning average of 12.65.
Over the past two Ranji seasons, Nabi collected 104 wickets, cementing his reputation as one of the most lethal and disciplined seam bowlers in the domestic circuit.
Pipped to the post by Gurnoor Brar for the Sri Lanka Tour, Auqib got his maiden call-up as a replacement for an injured Jasprit Bumrah.
Auqib’s inclusion is a landmark moment in Indian Cricket and for the state of J & K.
