Jammu, November 09, 2025 – In a season of seismic shifts for Jammu & Kashmir cricket, left-arm pacer Auqib Nabi has ignited what fans are calling #TheAuqibEffect—a relentless bowling onslaught that has catapulted J&K to the brink of Ranji Trophy quarterfinal contention. The 28-year-old from Srinagar claimed his third five-wicket haul of the 2025-26 season on Day 3 against Services at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, finishing with figures of 5/42 to bundle out the opponents for 198 and enforce a follow-on.With 24 wickets in six innings at a staggering average of 14.75, Auqib stands second in the national wicket-takers’ list, trailing only Vidarbha’s Aditya Thakare by a solitary scalp. His latest demolition—ripping through Services’ top and middle order with late inswing and vicious seam movement—has cemented his status as J&K’s spearhead of resurgence.From Valley Lanes to Ranji DominanceAuqib’s journey began in the bylanes of Nawa Kadal, where he honed his craft on matted wickets under the mentorship of former J&K coach Abdul Qayoom. A product of the J&K Cricket Association’s grassroots program, he burst onto the scene in 2018 with a hat-trick on debut against Tripura. But consistency eluded him—until this season.
“This is the result of three years of structured training at the NCA and MRF Pace Foundation,” Auqib told reporters post-match. “I’ve worked on my wrist position and loading—now the ball talks.”
A skiddy 140 kmph inswinger, a deceptive slower cutter, and an unplayable yorker that has dismissed 12 batsmen bowled or lbw—the most in Plate Group.Season Stats That Stun
| Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | 5-Fors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 24 | 14.75 | 32.4 | 3 |
- vs Meghalaya: 6/51
- vs Sikkim: 5/38
- vs Services: 5/42 (ongoing)
J&K’s head coach Milap Mewada hailed the transformation: “Auqib has single-handedly turned our bowling from defensive to destructive. His fitness—running 5 km daily in Srinagar’s winters—sets the benchmark.”#AuqibEffect Ripples Beyond StatsThe pacer’s rise has electrified J&K’s cricketing ecosystem. 500+ kids enrolled in JKCA’s pace academy this year, with #AuqibEffect trending across Valley social media. Local brand Kashmir Willow launched a signature bat series in his name, while LG Manoj Sinha invited him to Raj Bhavan for a felicitation.His mentorship of 16-year-old Umran Malik clone Basit Bashir—who clocked 148 kmph in nets—signals a new pace dynasty brewing in the Himalayas.Quarterfinals in SightWith 42 points from five matches, J&K need just one win from their final two games (vs Mizoram & Nagaland) to seal a historic knockout berth—their first since 2014. Auqib, rested for the Mizoram clash, returns for the Nagaland finale, where another five-for could etch his name alongside Parvez Rasool in J&K folklore.
As the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium roared with chants of “Auqib! Auqib!”, the pacer remained grounded: “Five-fors are milestones. My dream? To bowl J&K to the Ranji final—and hear the Valley echo with pride.”The #AuqibEffect isn’t just rewriting scorecards—it’s redefining what’s possible for cricket in the land of mountains.Keywords: Auqib Nabi, #AuqibEffect, J&K Cricket, Ranji Trophy, five-wicket haul, left-arm pacer, JKCA, Srinagar, bowling resurgence, Plate Group, Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, Umran Malik, Parvez Rasool, pace academy, Valley cricket
