Who is Auqib Nabi? The talk of the town for IPL Auction 2026

Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi has become one of the most talked-about uncapped players ahead of the IPL mini-auction 2026. As franchises prepare their shortlists for December’s mini-auction, Nabi’s name has been right to the top because of his brilliant domestic form and the exceptional run he has enjoyed over the last two seasons. The speedster has been dominating the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by delivering match-winning spells. His performances have pushed him to be a player whom every franchise is now looking at very seriously.

Nabi has been one of the most successful red-ball bowlers in Indian domestic cricket recently, picking 125 first-class wickets at an average of just 19.98, including 12 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket match hauls. Notably, since the start of 2024, no pacer has taken more Ranji Trophy wickets than him, and his 29 scalps this season in just nine innings make him a strong buy.

He has also impressed in white-ball cricket by picking 42 wickets in List A matches and 40 wickets in T20s, with the ability to swing the new ball and bowl hard overs, making him a reliable option. His all-round abilities have seen him score 870 FC runs and a fifty to his name.

This year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he finished with 11 wickets in five games at 13.54, consistently giving Jammu & Kashmir breakthroughs and building pressure in the powerplay. His most memorable spell of 4/16 came against Bihar. Another most talked-about spell came during the Ranji Trophy match against Delhi, where in a single over, he first removed Hrithik Shokeen with an away-seamer, and then sent down a booming in-swinging yorker to trap Manan Bharadwaj first ball. 

Multiple franchises showing interest at trials

As a result of this brilliance, the 29-year-old has now become one of the hottest uncapped names before the auction. Multiple franchises have already called him for trials. The Delhi Capitals conducted a session with him at their training camp, assessing him closely as they look for a strong Indian pacer after the exit of Mohit Sharma.

The Mumbai Indians, who have historically backed Indian seamers early, also invited him for a private trial. Even the Chennai Super Kings have shown interest, with Ravichandran Ashwin dropping a hint about CSK eyeing Nabi for 2026. Reports suggest that at least two more teams have scheduled trials with him, which indicates he is set to trigger a bidding war at the auction table. 

Nabi fits perfectly into the needs of multiple franchises. The Capitals require a new-ball bowler who can complement Mitchell Starc and ease pressure on Mukesh Kumar and T. Natarajan. Sunrisers Hyderabad lack Indian fast-bowling depth after trading Mohammed Shami and releasing Simarjeet Singh, making Nabi an ideal new-ball option.

Rajasthan Royals, who struggled with inconsistent Indian seamers last season, could also benefit immensely from someone as impactful as him. Mumbai Indians, managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload and looking for reliable budget options, see Nabi as a near-perfect fit, a bowler who can swing the ball and bowl at good lengths. Having never played in the IPL before, this season he can make his much-awaited debut.