Auqib Nabi Emerges as the Ultimate Big Match Player in Ranji Trophy

Auqib Nabi once again strikes for Jammu and Kashmir when it mattered the most. In the final clash against Karnataka, Nabi dominated with the ball on a batter-friendly pitch. Taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings, he has given a clear advantage to Jammu and Kashmir in the final.

Jammu and Kashmir are having their heads held high with their brilliant performances in the Ranji Trophy final. Despite making their first final appearance, the team has dominated against Karnataka pretty well. And for this, the contributions have been actively made by Auqib Nabi, their key performer this season.

Even in the final clash against Karnataka, he managed to do well on a batter-friendly pitch. While the batting line-up dominated well in the first innings, fans expected a high score from Karnataka in the second innings of the game. But Nabi struck well even in this game, taking a five-wicket haul.

Nabi's Dream Campaign

Auqib Nabi has had a dream campaign in the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 edition. From the start till the end, he has proven to be a key player for Jammu and Kashmir, leading the team to some great victories. His bowling performances played a crucial role for the team in the group stages, and even in the knockouts.

Auqib Nabi in Ranji Trophy 2025/26:

• Innings: 17
• Overs: 284.2
• Maidens: 60
• Wickets: 60
• Average: 12.56
• Economy: 2.65
• Five-wicket Hauls: 7

Whether it was the quarter final clash or semi-final, he struck well for the team whenever wickets were needed. He has also done well for the team with the bat, contributing runs from the lower order. Taking a look at his form, he comes as a contender for the Indian team in the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.

Nabi Shines in Big Games

Jammu and Kashmir had a great time in the Group stages of the tournament. In Group D, the team finished 2nd, just behind Mumbai, with 3 wins and a loss in 7 matches. Following this were the key games to help them reach the finals. And this is where Navi decided to deliver his best.

J&K vs Madhya Pradesh: Quarter Finals

The quarter-final clash took place between Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh. Jammu and Kashmir batted first in this game and the team posted 194 runs in the first innings. Madhya Pradesh had depth in its batting line-up, but Jammu and Kashmir had all the answers with the help of Auqib Nabi.

He bowled 18.4 overs in the second innings of the game, in which he managed to grab 7 wickets while conceding 40 runs. The devastation he caused with the ball caused MP to score just 152 runs. In the third innings, Jammu and Kashmir posted 248 runs, giving Madhya Pradesh a target of 291 runs.

But Nabi ensured that the target could not be chased. He took another five-wicket haul in this game, taking 5 wickets for 70 runs in 24 overs. Jammu and Kashmir won this game by 56 runs, as Nabi was able to take 12 wickets in the crucial quarter-final clash.

J&K vs Bengal: Semi-final

The semi-final clash was set to take place between Jammu & Kashmir and Bengal. Bengal brought its consistent batting line-up against Jammu, but the latter had a trump card in the form of Auqib Nabi. Bengal managed to score 328 runs in the first innings of the game, as Nabi took 5 wickets for 87 runs in 26 overs.

He also contributed with the bat, scoring 42 runs off 55 balls in the second innings of the game. Jammu and Kashmir managed to put 302 runs on the board, giving a lead of 26 runs to Bengal. But Auqib Nabi decided to take some quick wickets in the third innings of the game. He took 4 wickets in 10 overs while conceding 36 runs, as Bengal was bowled out for 99.

The target for Jammu and Kashmir was just 126 runs, which was achieved by the team with ease. Jammu & Kashmir won the game by 6 wickets, and they eventually marched into the finals for the very first time. Nabi took 9 wickets for the team in this game, helping them to reach the finals.

J&K vs Karnataka: Finals

Now, Auqib Nabi continues to contribute to the team even in the final clash. It was a batter-friendly pitch, which allowed Jammu and Kashmir to post a massive total of 584 runs in the first innings. However, the pitch didn't seem that batter-friendly as it was, when Auqib Nabi was given the ball.

He was able to take another five-wicket haul for the team, taking 5 wickets for 54 runs in 23 overs. Karnataka was bowled out for just 293 runs, giving a massive lead to Jammu and Kashmir ahead of their second innings.