Aaqib Nabi trial for MI - (Source: @haseebseer/X.com)
In a significant development, five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians have already begun preparing for the upcoming season and have called up Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi for a trial at their training facility in Mumbai.
The Mumbai Indians have been pretty active in the pre-season window as they were involved in two trades and have their squad mostly sorted for IPL 2026. Further, talking about Auqib Naqi, the 29-year-old has never played in IPL, and the upcoming season could be his first.
Why is J&K seamer in demand for IPL 2026?
For the unversed, Nabi is in high demand because of his recent heroics in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26. The right-arm seamer has taken 29 wickets in nine innings, which includes three five-wicket hauls. Most importantly, Nabi can also bat and scored 146 runs in seven innings, which includes a fifty. Notably, there are four players from Kashmir - Rasikh Salam, Abdul Samad, Yudvir Singh, and Umran Malik are the four players.
Nabi's performance has actually lifted Jammu & Kashmir in the ongoing edition as the side from the north is placed second on the table behind Mumbai. J&K have 20 points in five games and suffered a solitary defeat in the tournament.
Mumbai Indians working on Nabi deal
Also, it is worth noting that the Mumbai Indians have just 2.75 crores left in their bank and now since they are low on purse value, Nabi will be on their target to further strengthen their bowling unit.
Notably, it is not the first time that a team has opted for a player's trial as Chennai Super Kings had also called-up Ayush Mhatre last season and eventually roped-in the Mumbai-based cricketer mid-season as a replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad.
 (1).jpg?type=mq "T20 WC update")
