Auqib Nabi thanks Irfan Pathan (Source: @Eye_Doubliv/x.com)
As the Ranji Trophy has returned with yet another thrilling edition, fans have witnessed some of the unreal red-ball thrills. Among all the exciting performances, Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi grabbed all the spotlight with his exceptional performance.
After securing a 10-wicket haul against Rajasthan, he shattered the big stage. In a recent conversation, he opened up about how a few golden words from Irfan Pathan became the turning point in honing his craft.
What is Nabi’s secret to being a fierce bowler?
The Ranji Trophy may have been the breeding ground of some outstanding talents, but Jammu and Kashmir’s contribution to producing outstanding fast-bowling stars can’t be denied. After Umran Malik shattered the big stage, Auqib Nabi is the newest addition to the list. In the ongoing season, Nabi has already claimed 17 wickets, including a sensational 10-wicket haul against Rajasthan and a five-wicket haul against Mumbai.
The world is in awe of Nabi’s outstanding bowling display, but everything didn’t come as a silverware as his relentless hard work earned him his deserved success. In a recent interaction with the Times of India, Nabi revealed how he worked on his technique to make a mark on the 22 yards.
“When I started bowling, I used to bowl outswing. Then I thought I needed to work on inswing as well. While doing so, I lost my outswing but my inswing improved. After a couple more seasons, I thought aisa nahi chalega (it can’t go like this). I needed to move the ball both ways. I started working on my wrist position and on what length to hit. To be honest, I’ve kept things simple for the past 1-2 years. Now, I have good control over both swings. That’s why I’m getting more wickets,” he said.
Nabi hails Irfan Pathan’s mentorship
Before making waves in the ongoing season, Nabi crossed days when he failed to make his mark on the field. But the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association was having his back strongly. But there was another former Indian star who believed in Nabi’s ability. He is Irfan Pathan, who backed the pacer early on. Nabi expressed heartfelt gratitude to Pathan for standing by him during those tough times.
“When I started playing age-group cricket, we never had bowling coaches. Even growing up, I never had anyone to teach me. When I made my Ranji Trophy debut, we had Irfan Pathan with us. He gave me a lot of useful tips related to bowling. He was the first one who told me to work on my wrist and not change anything,” he added.
After one win and one defeat in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, Jammu and Kashmir is standing in the second position of Group D’s points table with seven points. As they are set to face Chhattisgarh, they will be eyeing another thrilling victory.
