Ranji Trophy | Sticking to the basics pays dividends for Nabi

Auqib Nabi’s career has been on an upward curve over the past 12 months. The 28-year-old pacer from Jammu & Kashmir took more wickets than any other fast bowler in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season — 44 scalps in eight matches — and he has begun the new campaign in the same vein: with a five-for against Mumbai at the Sher E Kashmir Cricket Stadium on Friday. Between these highs, he also impressed in the Duleep Trophy in August, notably claiming four wickets in four balls for North Zone against East Zone in Bengaluru.

His five-wicket haul against Mumbai — his 10th in 32 First Class matches — came after J&K conceded a 61-run first-innings lead. His victims on Friday were Musheer Khan, Ajinkya Rahane, Siddhesh Lad, Sarfaraz Khan and Akash Anand.

“We had conceded the first-innings lead. So, the plan was just to get wickets quickly. We were looking to bowl at the stumps. I just stick to the basics,” he said after the day’s play.

In Nabi’s first 20 matches, he had taken just 46 wickets. What is behind the transformation that has the bowler from Baramulla now believing that he can play for India?

“When you start at First Class level, you have to do a lot to be successful. I have done that,” he mentioned. “I have worked on my skill and fitness. There have been a lot of changes in my bowling from the time I started. The outswinger was my natural ball. But as I have played more, I have worked on my inswinger and the scrambled-seam delivery. It is a gradual process over the years. Everything came together well last season.”