Srinagar, Dec 16: Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi emerged as one of the biggest highlights of the IPL 2026 auction after being picked up by Delhi Capitals for a hefty ₹8.40 crore. The uncapped fast bowler has impressed consistently in domestic cricket, prompting the Capitals to move swiftly to secure his services.
Nabi has enjoyed a stellar season across formats. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament, he claimed 15 wickets in seven matches while maintaining an economy rate of 7.41. His recent all-round effort against Madhya Pradesh stood out, as he scored a quick 32 off 21 balls and then returned figures of three wickets to guide Jammu and Kashmir to victory.
His red-ball performances have been equally impressive. Nabi made a remarkable start to the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy, finishing the first half of the season as the only fast bowler among the top five wicket-takers. He picked up 29 wickets in nine innings, including three five-wicket hauls and a stunning 7 for 24 against Rajasthan, which played a key role in J&K reaching the knockout stages.
The strong showing followed his outstanding 2024–25 Ranji Trophy campaign, where he ended with 44 wickets at an average of 13.93. No other seamer matched his tally, with the next best finishing with 35 wickets, while only Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey surpassed him overall.
Delhi Capitals, who earlier added David Miller and Ben Duckett at their base prices of ₹2 crore each, will now be banking on Nabi to carry his domestic form into the IPL. With his raw pace, knack for taking wickets and ability to contribute with the bat, Nabi adds depth and balance to the Capitals’ squad as they gear up for IPL 2026.
