Different ball game: It will be intriguing to see how Nabi, known for his prowess with the red ball, copes with the demands of the IPL. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO: K. MURALI KUMAR
Few domestic cricketers in recent years have sparked as much curiosity about their craft as Auqib Nabi. The Baramulla pacer was thoroughly convincing in the recently concluded domestic season, helping Jammu & Kashmir win the Ranji Trophy for the first time with 60 scalps in 10 matches at an average of 12.56.
With the 29-year-old in the prime of his career, an opportunity in the Indian Premier League (Delhi Capitals acquired him for Rs 8.4 million in the December mini-auction) could not have come at a more opportune time.
While it is his propensity to move the red ball at will that has facilitated the extra attention, it will be no less intriguing to follow how Nabi copes with the demands of the world’s highest-profile T20 league. It is worth noting that he also impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the domestic T20 fixture, last season, with 15 victims in seven outings.
Nabi, true to his simple demeanor, highlighted simplicity when asked about his mantra with the ball in all formats.
“My strength is that I swing the new ball and make early breakthroughs. At the back, in T20, you need yorkers and slower balls. I am working on that with the coaches. I won’t stray from my strengths. I keep things simple,” Nabi said during a virtual interaction on Friday. “Obviously there will be expectations, but I’m concentrating on my job and not paying much attention to the outside noise.”
This is easier said than done as the IPL, while still a domestic competition, is a considerable step up from its allocations for J&K.
“The margin of error is smaller in the IPL,” Nabi assessed. “Domestic cricket is also at a good level, but in the IPL you don’t expect to make many mistakes. That’s the difference between the IPL and domestic cricket.”
Published – March 27, 2026 07:17 pm IST
