The player from Jammu and Kashmir, Auqib Nabi, is feeling a change in the air regarding the upcoming IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16 after receiving trial interest from Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI) respectively.
The competition is open for 10 franchises to acquire 77 players out of the selected group of 350 that consists of 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas stars.
Auqib Nabi Fuels Auction Hopes After Consistent Domestic Exploits
The cricket world had not yet opened its eyes and hands to Nabi who despite his consistent exploits in domestic in all formats, but he has suffered and thus he has learned not to hope for anything from the IPL auction. Nevertheless, he shared that the whole thing feels different this time around.
“It feels different but I cannot really tell you the exact reason. It is really tough you know, when your are doing so well and still no one cares. It is really demoralizing. But at the same time, it has made me stronger mentally. However, one cannot predict anything now. If it doesn’t happen, so be it. I’m used to it and I will work even harder. This year…there’s some excitement.”
Auqib Nabi has taken 15 wickets in seven matches of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 at an astonishing economy of 7.41. In his very latest game, Nabi smashed 32 runs off 21 balls with the bat against Madhya Pradesh before claiming a three-wicket haul to lead his team to victory.
The SMAT adventures were against the backdrop of a fantastic first half of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy where he eclipsed the rest of the league by being the only bowler included in the list of the top five wicket-takers with 29 wickets in nine innings at an average of 13.27, and three five-wicket hauls as well.
Ranji’s last season performances were extremely incredible, as they reached a total of 44 wickets at an astonishing average of 13.93, and the second most wickets of the edition after Harsh Dubey’s overwhelming light of 69. Along with this superb performance Nabi got picked in the North Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy, where he was noticed with four wickets in four balls against East Zone.
Auqib Nabi Expresses Frustration After Continuous Ignorance Until Duleep Trophy Heroic.
Auqib Nabi shared his discontent regarding the selectors and franchises continued original treatment, attributing his recent fame to his hat-trick in the Duleep Trophy 2025.
“Ranji last season, nobody even spoke of me. I had six five-fors and was among the best pacers. But it was only after this Duleep [Trophy] match, where I took four [wickets] in four [balls] that I got the recognition. Even though it was in a red-ball match, a record is a record,” he added.
While Auqib Nabi kept on winning games in domestic cricket, he finally started to be noticed by IPL franchises and already participated in the trials conducted by DC and five-time champions MI, while some others were also on the way, but conflicted with SMAT matches.
Nabi’s two seasons performance is now slowly getting recognition. The 29-year-old is expected to be the object of interest from several franchises. He will be a part of the UAL1 set and his minimum price will be 30 lakh.