Jammu and Kashmir bowler Abid Mushtaq (R) and (L) Aquib Nabi | Photo Credit: MOORTHY RV

Aquib Nabi is on his way to national colours. England is the place to start in the summer,” former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly Friday wrote on X, heaping praise on the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team. The team pulled off a historic triumph by defeating star studded Karnataka in finals etching its name in the annals of the region’s cricket, with Aquib dazzling fans throughout the campaign. 

Jammu & Kashmir ran up 584, powered by Shubham Pundir’s 121, to seize early control of the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka cricket team. Karnataka were bowled out for 293, conceding a decisive 291-run first-innings deficit, with Aquib claiming a five-wicket haul. Mayank Agarwal’s fighting 160 proved the lone highlight of their reply. J&K then extended the overall lead to 633 in the second innings through centuries from Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra. The match ended in a draw on Day 5, with Jammu & Kashmir securing victory on the basis of their commanding first-innings lead. 

Hailing from the quiet Sheeri village, about 65 kilometres north of Srinagar, the young pacer proved devastating for Karnataka’s batting line-up. On the fourth day of the final, Aquib claimed his seventh five-wicket haul of the 2025–26 Ranji season, dismantling the opposition and sealing his reputation as one of the tournament’s most lethal bowlers. With 60 wickets to his name this season, he has emerged as one of the most prolific performers in the competition.

Aquib’s journey

Ghulam Nabi Dar, Aquib’s father, told businessline that his son displayed a natural inclination towards the sport from early childhood, honing his skills in orchards and open fields without any formal coaching. “Still, we don’t have a good cricket playfield in our area”, Dar said. 

It was only after Aquib went to Amar Singh College, Srinagar where he began playing with a club, recalls Dar. “He would watch Dale Steyn videos on his smart phone to learn and refine his bowling skills,” said Dar. 

Aquib marked his entry into List A cricket for Jammu & Kashmir in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, making his debut on September 23, 2018, and went on to make his first-class debut on January 3, 2020, in the 2019–20 Ranji Trophy. He recorded his highest first-class score and career-best bowling figures during Jammu & Kashmir’s innings victory over Rajasthan in October 2025, scoring 55 and returning match figures of 3 for 29 and 7 for 24--a performance that underlined his growing all-round value to the side.

Aquib is set to represent the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming Indian Premier League season after being bought at the December auction for ₹8.40 crore. 

Ganguly’s endorsement has now added national weight to Aquib’s rising stature. India’s tour of England, featuring five T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals, will serve as part of the team’s build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. If his current form is any measure, the journey from the orchards of Sheeri to the national stage may no longer be a distant dream but an imminent reality.

Published on February 28, 2026