IPL auction: MI about to unearth another hidden gem in Auqib Nabi and data backs the statement

Auqib Nabi auditions for MI ahead of IPL 2026 auction [Source: @TheCricketSaga/X.com]

Mumbai Indians have always been cricket’s version of a talent factory. They don’t just buy stars, but they create them. 

From spotting raw, fearless youngsters to turning them into match-winners, MI’s reputation for grooming underrated players is unmatched. 

Now, with Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi attending trials ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, the question is natural: Is he the right fit for MI’s setup?

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Auqib Nabi could be the burst of fresh air for MI

(Table - Auqib Nabi's stats in first class and List-A cricket)

On paper, Auqib Nabi ticks quite a few boxes. He is not a flashy 145 kmph speedster. He doesn’t come with viral yorker compilations or mystery variations. 

What he does bring is something teams quietly crave, which is control, swing and rhythm. His Ranji Trophy numbers speak louder than hype. Nabi has picked 125 wickets in first-class cricket, with 12 fifers, including the one against Mumbai in the recent Ranji game.

Finishing among the leading wicket-takers, especially in tough domestic conditions, shows he isn’t a one-season wonder. 

He understands how to set batters up and how to exploit movement with the new ball. For the Mumbai Indians, that skill set is extremely valuable.

MI is the perfect platform for Auqib Nabi to get a head start

Mumbai Indians’ current reality is different from their golden era between 2013 and 2020. The star-studded pace attack of Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McClenaghan and company is no longer intact. 

Arjun Tendulkar’s exit to LSG has also left a gap in the young Indian seamer category. Auqib Nabi fits neatly into that vacancy as a low-cost, low-risk, high-upside pick. 

What makes MI special is its ecosystem. They don’t throw players into the deep end and hope they swim. They build them patiently. 

Jasprit Bumrah was a skinny, slingy teenager when MI backed him. Hardik and Krunal Pandya were raw Baroda all-rounders before MI turned them into household names.

Suryakumar Yadav didn’t become “SKY the superstar” overnight. MI stuck by him through lean patches. This is where Nabi’s story becomes interesting.

He isn’t from a traditional cricket powerhouse state. He doesn’t come with celebrity backing. That’s exactly the kind of cricketer MI tends to love. They thrive on finding diamonds that other franchises overlook. 

Risks of buying Nabi

(Table - Auqib Nabi's stats in T20s)

However, the risk is real. His T20 numbers are decent but not exceptional. IPL is ruthless. Short boundaries. Flat pitches. World-class hitters. 

There's little margin for error. If Auqib Nabi can’t quickly adapt his lengths and develop variations like slower balls and cutters, he could struggle under pressure. 

MI will have to decide whether they see him as a long-term investment or just a backup bowler.

Additionally, MI have a purse of ₹2.57 crore left. If Auqib Nabi finds multiple takers and cracks a bidding war, Mumbai will be forced to pull out. 

Final thought

So, is Auqib Nabi the right fit? Strategically, yes. Emotionally, yes. Structurally, yes.

The Mumbai Indians are not just looking for ready-made stars. They’re looking for players they can shape. 

Auqib Nabi fits that profile perfectly. He may not start as a headline act, but MI has never needed players to be headlines before turning them into superstars.

If history tells us anything, it’s that when MI quietly tests a domestic bowler, they usually see something others missed.

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