For a cricketer who once bowled with a tennis ball on uneven grounds in Sheeri village of Baramulla, this season has felt like a dream unfolding at pace. Auqib Nabi Dar is no longer just a promising fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir — he is now the face of the state’s greatest cricketing achievement and one of the most exciting new signings for Delhi.
Jammu and Kashmir scripted history by winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title, sealing the championship on the basis of a first-innings lead in a drawn final. At the heart of that triumph was Auqib, whose relentless swing dismantled some of the strongest batting line-ups in the competition.
He finished the season with 60 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 12.56, including seven five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket spells, with best figures of seven for 24. He also contributed 245 runs — including a fighting 55 in one of the key matches — underlining his all-round value. Unsurprisingly, he was adjudged Player of the Series.
“It was unbelievable because this is the first time we’ve won the Ranji Trophy. It still doesn’t feel real,” Auqib said after the Ranji Trophy win.
“When I started playing for J&K, my dream was always to win a trophy — especially the Ranji Trophy in red-ball cricket,” he said, adding that there had been “a lot of hard work and struggle”. “Finally, we’ve won this cup.”
Big moments, bigger spells
Auqib’s impact was most telling in the knockout stages. In the quarterfinal, he returned with a 12-wicket match haul, including a seven-for, and was named Player of the Match. In the semifinal against Bengal, he once again rose to the occasion with nine wickets — five for 87 and four for 36 — along with a crucial 42 with the bat to push Jammu and Kashmir into their first-ever final.
In the summit clash, he produced another masterclass against a Karnataka side boasting international names. His five-wicket haul on a batting-friendly surface broke the backbone of the opposition and secured the decisive first-innings advantage.
“The mindset was to bowl without worrying about the batter,” he said. “The idea was to bowl in good areas and do what was possible for me to do. Whenever the team requires something, I try to give my best because every match is important — especially in knockouts.”
Trials, heartbreak and belief
The journey to the top, however, was paved with rejection. Auqib revealed that at least half a dozen Indian Premier League franchises had called him for trials over the past few years.
“I’ve given trials for MI, RR, KKR, GT and SRH. Last year, DC called me but I couldn’t go because of a state camp,” he said.
That missed opportunity with Delhi Capitals made this year’s auction sweeter. In Abu Dhabi, he was picked up for Rs 8.40 crore after a fierce bidding war, a remarkable leap from his Rs 30 lakh base price.
“I was at home watching with my family. When Delhi picked up the paddle, I didn’t care about the price. I just thought — I can play in the IPL,” he said. “My family was emotional. They were crying.”
He admitted that the IPL was not just about recognition. “I want to play in the IPL — it will help me achieve my dream of starting an academy in Baramulla,” he said.
A bigger dream back home
That long-cherished dream now feels within reach.
“I’d like to open an academy,” Auqib said. “There’s absolutely nothing here. When I started playing, I had to go to Bengaluru for training and play lower-division matches there.”
He added that he wanted “to find and train more Auqib Nabis from Baramulla”.
Growing up, cricket was not even a clear ambition. “I was good at studies, and my father’s dream was that I would become a doctor,” he recalled. “I used to play tennis-ball cricket for fun. I was never that serious.”
A friend insisted he go for JKCA trials, but “I wasn’t selected for two or three years”, he said.
In 2016, during his final Under-19 year, he finally broke through — selected for the four-day format and featuring in the Cooch Behar Trophy.
“That’s when I made up my mind that this is what I wanted to do,” he said.
After progressing through Under-23 cricket, he made his Ranji debut in 2020.
His father, Gulam Nabi Dar, initially resisted. “He used to tell me studies were important. He was upset when I started playing cricket,” Auqib said. “After I got picked for U-19, he began supporting me. Now he’s my biggest fan.”
He still remembers arriving for his first trial in Jammu without proper spikes.
“I was shell-shocked. I was wearing sports shoes worth Rs 500,” he said.
He borrowed spikes from a senior player, and later from a friend who had already represented Jammu and Kashmir at Under-19 level.
“With my first match fee, I bought my own pair of spikes. I still have them. They’ll stay in my house till my last breath,” he said. “Those shoes were the first step towards a big dream.”
Inspired, but grounded
Auqib drew inspiration from watching Dale Steyn, imitating his action on makeshift grounds. Later, guidance from former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan helped him refine his natural swing.
During the Duleep Trophy, where he claimed a five-wicket haul for North Zone, fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana boosted his confidence.
“They kept telling me, ‘Paji, kafi achha kar rahe ho, lage raho aap.’ I loved playing with them,” he said.
Despite the accolades, he remains grounded. “Whatever is written for you, you’ll get it. Main mehnat kar sakta hoon, baaki Allah dekh lenge,” he said. “For me, it all started with gully cricket. We never had any proper ground. I didn’t even know a fast bowler needed spikes. I never thought I’d come this far. I’m just blessed.”
He believes the biggest change came internally. “The main change I made was in my mindset. I started believing in myself. I stopped thinking about results and focused on the process.”
The India dream
Yet, for all the titles and the IPL windfall, one ambition towers above the rest.
“When I started taking cricket seriously, my sole aim was to represent India — to represent my country,” he said. “Coming from Baramulla, even thinking about playing for your country is a big thing. You don’t have role models.”
“Now, my only goal is to play for India. Nothing else. I’ll keep working hard to achieve that.”
From borrowing spikes to treasure to lifting the Ranji Trophy and earning Delhi’s trust on the IPL stage, Auqib Nabi Dar’s journey is a testament to belief. As he looks to build an academy back home, the boy from Sheeri is determined that the next dreamer from Baramulla will not have to leap into the unknown to chase his.
