The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi has set the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26 on fire, and now the whole country is talking about him and the latest name in Sourav Ganguly.
Auqib Nabi creates history in Ranji Trophy
Auqib Nabi has been in sensational form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka at the KSCA Ground in Hubli. The pacer picked five wickets in the title clash, and it was his seventh five-wicket haul in this season. This was also the 15th five-wicket haul of his Ranji career.
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With this spell, he achieved a special feat. Auqib Nabi becomes the only third player to have taken 60 wickets in one single Ranji season in 92 years of the tournament’s history. His record performance has pushed Jammu and Kashmir close to their first-ever Ranji Trophy title.
7 wickets in the QF (1st inns)
5 wickets in the QF (2nd inns)
5 wickets in the SF (1st inns)
4 wickets in the SF (2nd inns)
5 wickets in the Final (1st inns)
Clutch. Relentless. Unstoppable. 🔥
Auqib Nabi is built for the big stage — THE ultimate big-match player of Jammu &… pic.twitter.com/FhSCRXFE9E— Manas Dubey (@MANASDU06413436) February 27, 2026
In the final, Karnataka tried to fight back as Mayank Agarwal played a stunning knock of 160 runs, but Nabi trapped him in front and ended the threat. Later, he dismissed Shikhar Shetty to reach his 60-wicket mark.
Following his remarkable efforts with the ball, fans and former cricketers started demanding his selection in the Indian Test team. The calls became louder when former India captain and former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly also made this demand publicly.
Sourav Ganguly backs Auqib Nabi for England tour, tags BCCI in bold post
Ganguly praised Jammu and Kashmir for their effort and strong mindset. He said that tough conditions create tough people. India will tour England in July 2026 for a white-ball series, and Ganguly feels England is the right place for Nabi to start his international journey.
Even the legendary batter tagged the BCCI, Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia in his social media post. His message was clear: to take notice of Auqib Nabi.
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Sourav Ganguly wrote, X: “J&K has shown the world what effort and intent can do … They have made that region so proud of them… a tough environment makes tough people. Aqib Nabi is on his way to national colors… England is the place to start in the summer @bcci @imAagarkar @lonsaikia.”
J&K has shown the world what effort and intent can do ..They have made that region so proud of them .. tuff environment makes tuff people. Aqib nabi on his way to national colours .. england is the place to start in the summer @bcci @imAagarkar @lonsaikia
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 27, 2026
Nabi’s IPL opportunity could turn India dream into reality
Well, it will remain to be seen if the India call comes this summer. But before that, Nabi has a big stage to catch the attention, and that is the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He will play in the IPL 2026 after Delhi Capitals bought him for a huge Rs 8.4 crore in the mini auction last year in December. The IPL will give him a golden chance to bowl against world-class batters and show his speed and swing under pressure, and that can make his India dream come true very soon.
Speaking about the Ranji Trophy final, Jammu and Kashmir posted 584 in the first innings and then bundled out Karnataka for 293. Presently, they are leading by 334 runs against Karnataka after losing two wickets for just 11 runs in their second innings in Hubli.
