Auqib Nabi, 29-year-old right-arm medium pacer, from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, scripted one of the most remarkable stories of the IPL 2026 mini auction on Tuesday, December 16. The Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder, who entered the auction with a modest base price of Rs 30 lakh, was snapped up by Delhi Capitals for a staggering Rs 8.40 crore.
Nabi, who has never played in the IPL before, has built a strong reputation in domestic cricket, featuring in 36 first-class, 29 List A and 34 T20 matches so far. His ability to swing the new ball and his marked improvement as a death-overs bowler made him one of the most sought-after uncapped Indian pacers in this year’s auction.
Fierce bidding war unfolds at the auction
Auqib Nabi’s IPL 2026 auction turned into a dramatic bidding battle. Delhi Capitals opened the bidding at his base price of Rs 30 lakh before Rajasthan Royals briefly entered the fray. Once the price crossed Rs 1 crore, RR pulled out, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru stepped in and pushed Delhi with aggressive incremental bids. Despite pressure, DC stayed in the contest. Sunrisers Hyderabad then raised the stakes at Rs 2.2 crore, triggering a fierce duel that saw the price soar rapidly. In the end, Delhi Capitals held their nerve, securing the Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder for a stunning Rs 8.40 crore.
Domestic performances fuel bumper IPL deal
Nabi’s rise has been powered by consistent performances across formats. He impressed selectors with his outings in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where his pace, control and lower-order hitting stood out.
In first-class cricket, Auqib Nabi has taken 125 wickets in 59 innings from 36 matches and has also contributed 870 runs with the bat. In List A cricket, he has claimed 42 wickets in 29 matches, while in T20s he has dismissed 43 batters in 34 games.
His most recent appearance came on December 8, 2025, when Jammu and Kashmir faced Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite Group B match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Batting at No. 7, Nabi scored 32 runs off 21 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. He then delivered a match-winning spell of 3 for 19 in four overs, helping J&K defend 150 runs and win by 13 runs.
Nabi finished the SMAT 2025 season with 15 wickets in seven matches, including one four-wicket haul, at an economy rate of 7.41.
With Umran Malik and Yudhvir Singh Charak already having represented Jammu and Kashmir in the IPL, Auqib Nabi now joins the growing list of fast bowlers from the region to break into the league, marking another significant milestone for cricket in the state.