From Kashmir Village to India Test Squad: Auqib Nabi's Remarkable Journey
For years, Auqib Nabi travelled long distances simply to find a proper cricket pitch. Now, the Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder is preparing to walk onto one of the biggest stages in the sport.
The 29-year-old has become the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to earn an India Test call-up, after being added to the squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah.
It is a landmark moment for Indian cricket, but perhaps even more so for the region Auqib has represented throughout his career.
A Dream That Once Seemed Impossible
Auqib grew up in Baramulla district in a family where cricket was initially viewed as a distraction rather than a career.
His father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, is a schoolteacher and wanted his son to concentrate on his education. Professional cricket did not appear to be a realistic option, particularly in a region where facilities and opportunities were limited.
But Auqib refused to give up on the sport.
He regularly travelled around 70 kilometres to Srinagar to train on proper cricket pitches. At one point, he did not even own a pair of cricket spikes when he attended his first trials.
What he lacked in facilities, however, he made up for in determination.
According to his family, Auqib would begin his days with gym sessions before spending hours practising. That routine continued for years as he attempted to turn an unlikely dream into reality.
The Breakthrough Came in Ranji Trophy
Auqib finally made his first-class debut for Jammu and Kashmir in 2020.
His impact was immediate.
On his Ranji Trophy debut against Jharkhand, he claimed five wickets, announcing himself as a bowler capable of competing at the highest level of domestic cricket.
But establishing himself nationally proved far more difficult.
Even after taking 44 wickets during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, he remained largely outside the India selection conversation.
That only made his next season more impressive.
60 Wickets and a Historic Ranji Trophy Title
Auqib produced a sensational campaign in the following Ranji Trophy season, claiming 60 wickets in 10 matches.
He finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker and played a major role in Jammu and Kashmir's historic Ranji Trophy triumph.
The title was particularly significant because it was the region's first Ranji Trophy championship after a 67-year wait.
His performances could no longer be ignored.
An IPL opportunity followed, with the Delhi Capitals signing him for a reported ₹8.4 crore, although his opportunities in the tournament were limited.
His red-ball performances, however, had already caught the attention of India's selectors.
Now Auqib Has Made History
With Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the Sri Lanka Test series, India turned to Auqib as a replacement.
The call-up makes him the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected for India's Test squad.
Former Jammu and Kashmir captain and India's first international cricketer from the region, Parvez Rasool, believes the moment represents something much bigger than one player's achievement.
For years, players from Jammu and Kashmir had fewer facilities, fewer opportunities and fewer role models to look towards.
Auqib's selection could change that.
'One Day They Will Take Selfies With Me'
Perhaps the most revealing story from Auqib's journey comes from his childhood.
His cousin Bilal Ahmad Dar once asked him why he did not take selfies with the famous cricketers he encountered.
Auqib's response was simple.
He said that one day he would reach a level where the stars would want to take selfies with him.
That prediction has now come true.
The same player who once travelled across Kashmir looking for proper training facilities is now part of an India Test squad containing some of the biggest names in the sport.
More Than Just a Cricket Story
Auqib's journey is significant because of what it could mean for cricket in Jammu and Kashmir.
The region has historically faced challenges including harsh winters, limited cricket infrastructure and fewer opportunities for young players to pursue the sport professionally.
His success offers a new reference point for aspiring cricketers growing up there.
Parvez Rasool believes Auqib's selection can give youngsters in the region the confidence to dream beyond domestic cricket.
For Auqib, however, the biggest challenge is still ahead.
A Test call-up is one achievement. Earning a place in India's XI and making an impact against Sri Lanka would take the story to another level.
The first Test begins in Galle on August 15.
For a boy who once had to travel 70 kilometres simply to find a proper cricket pitch, the journey has already been extraordinary.
Now, Auqib Nabi has the chance to take the final step towards becoming India's newest Test cricketer.
