Auqib Nabi bags Rs 8.40 cr deal with DC in IPL 2026 (X.com/@DelhiCapitals)
The Jammu and Kashmir’s pacer, Auqib Dar Nabi, has finally been rewarded after dominating the domestic circuit for years. Nabi entered the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction, held in Abu Dhabi, with a base price of Rs 30 lakh and has been acquired by the Delhi Capitals for a whopping Rs 8.40 crore.
The Axar Patel-led side was involved in a bidding war with other teams, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad, but eventually secured the player after a fierce battle.
Started from the lanes of Baramulla: Auqib Nabi’s journey to IPL stardom
The J&K-born Nabi's rise is particularly noteworthy given his background. Growing up in Baramulla, he honed his skills in limited spaces and on hilly terrain, far away from the luxuries of life.
Notably, his tough training early on in the career foundation has shaped his control and ability to extract movement with the new ball, qualities that now make him an exciting element for the Delhi Capitals, who are still eyeing their maiden IPL title.
Nabi's iconic run in the domestic circle pays off
Talking about his phenomenal run in the domestic circuit, the right-arm medium pacer has been in superb form. Coming into the IPL auction, he put all the team managements on memorandum by picking 15 wickets in seven matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at an economy rate of 7.41, including figures of 4/16 against Bihar.
Apart from the twenty-over format, Nabi also showed exceptional skills in the premier domestic tournament Ranji Trophy 2025-26. He scalped as many as 29 wickets in nine innings, including three fifers and a stunning 7/24 against Rajasthan, which helped Jammu and Kashmir progress to the knockouts stage.
With his inclusion in the cash-rich tournament, he is now the third pacer from the Jammu and Kashmir region, after Umran Malik and Yudhvir Singh Charak, to feature in the IPL.
