New Delhi: Rising up in a curfew-stricken Baramulla, Auqib Nabi’s pastime was imitating Dale Steyn’s bowling motion. He calls the South African legend a “khoobsurat gendbaaz (lovely bowler).”“Rising up, he was my idol. I cherished his motion and his wicket celebrations. I used to observe Dale Steyn’s bowling quite a bit. All the things about his bowling was poetry,” Nabi tells TimesofIndia.com in an unique interview.

The 28-year-old is making waves with the purple ball in India’s home circuit. Within the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, he picked up 44 wickets in eight matches — the second-most within the season. His efficiency helped Jammu and Kashmir qualify for the quarterfinals, the place Kerala edged them by a one-run first-innings lead.Nabi has began the 2025-26 season precisely the place he left off final yr. He has already picked 17 wickets, together with two five-wicket hauls. Towards Mumbai, his notable wickets included Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan (twice), and centurion Siddhesh Lad. Towards Rajasthan, he wreaked havoc, taking seven for twenty-four within the second innings, together with a ten-wicket match haul. He eliminated Rajasthan’s high six in his opening burst.“I consider we are able to win the Ranji Trophy this season,” the lanky J&Okay pacer mentioned in a daring declare.“We have now all of the elements required for a champion crew. We have now one of the best bowling assault within the nation. All of the bowlers and all-rounders are doing effectively. Even after shedding 5 wickets, we’ve managed so as to add 100–150 runs. I feel we are able to go all the way in which this time,” he provides.Final season, J&Okay missed out from progressing by the narrowest margin doable. The 81-run stand between Kerala’s M Nidheesh and Basil Thampi, which eclipsed Jammu and Kashmir’s first-innings whole of 280 by only one run, nonetheless offers Nabi sleepless nights.“It was sheer dangerous luck. I’ll always remember that match, I’ll always remember that partnership. Waah re qismat (What luck!)” laughs Nabi.‘Change in Qismat’

Within the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Auqib Nabi picked up 44 wickets in eight matches — the second-most within the season. (PTI File Picture)

Earlier than the beginning of the 2024-25 season, Nabi had 46 wickets in 20 matches.The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Affiliation (JKCA) saved giving him possibilities regardless of not having the specified outcomes. It was all due to Irfan Pathan, the previous India all-rounder, who joined J&Okay in a player-cum-mentor position and, earlier than leaving, wrote a mail to JKCA asking the affiliation to put money into Nabi.“Once I began bowling, I used to bowl outswing. Then I believed I wanted to work on inswing as effectively. Whereas doing so, I misplaced my outswing however my inswing improved.“After a pair extra seasons, I believed aisa nahi chalega (it may possibly’t go like this). I wanted to maneuver the ball each methods. I began engaged on my wrist place and on what size to hit. To be trustworthy, I’ve saved issues easy for the previous 1–2 years. Now, I’ve good management over each swings. That’s why I’m getting extra wickets,” he laughs.“Once I began taking part in age-group cricket, we by no means had bowling coaches. Even rising up, I by no means had anybody to show me. Once I made my Ranji Trophy debut, we had Irfan Pathan with us. He gave me a whole lot of helpful ideas associated to bowling. He was the primary one who instructed me to work on my wrist and never change something. After he left, we didn’t have any bowling coach. We had been on our personal. For the previous two years, we’ve had P. Krishna Kumar as our bowling coach. After he got here, I acquired a whole lot of assist, and it’s exhibiting in my bowling,” he provides.A late bloomer

Auqib Nabi has began the 2025-26 season with 17 wickets, together with two five-wicket hauls. (PTI)

Nabi’s father, Gulam Nabi Dar, is an English trainer in a authorities college in Baramulla. “I used to be good in research, and my father’s dream was that I might change into a physician,” recollects Nabi.“I used to play tennis-ball cricket for enjoyable. I had a buddy who went for a JKCA trial however wasn’t chosen. I used to be by no means that thinking about cricket. He insisted, and when he instructed me tales of the camps, it me. I went for the trials however wasn’t chosen for two–3 years.“In 2016, my final U-19 yr, I lastly acquired picked — not for the one-dayers, however for the four-day matches. Once I performed the Cooch Behar Trophy, I made up my thoughts that that is what I wish to do. Then I performed two or three years in U-23 earlier than making my Ranji Trophy debut in 2020,” he says.Gulam Nabi Dar wished to see his son in whites — however not those Auqib selected.“My father used to inform me that research had been vital. I used to be good at them too. He was actually upset once I began taking part in cricket. After I acquired picked for U-19, he started supporting me. Earlier than that, he was towards it. Now he’s my greatest fan,” says Nabi.The Parvez Rasool affect

File photograph of Parvez Rasool.

The dream of taking part in for India first took form in Nabi’s thoughts when he noticed fellow Kashmiri Parvez Rasool make his India debut.“Throughout the nationwide anthem, I had goosebumps. Seeing Parvez bhai carrying India blue made me emotional. The second impressed me as a result of he was one in all us,” says a proud Nabi.Rasool just lately introduced his retirement from worldwide cricket.“Mai jahaan se aata hoon, wahaan se nikal ke kabhi is degree pe cricket khelunga, yeh nahi socha tha maine (The place I come from, I by no means thought I’d make it this far and play cricket at this degree). Parvez bhai taking part in for India and getting picked within the IPL was enormous for me — you’ll be able to say a turning level. Instantly, I had somebody to look as much as,” he says.Borrowed spikes, one dream

Auqib Nabi needs to play for India, and the way in which he’s taking wickets, the “Dale Steyn of Baramulla” will not be removed from an India call-up. (PTI)

Nabi reveals an fascinating story about his first trial. When he reached Jammu, he discovered he wanted spikes to bowl.“I used to be shocked. I used to be carrying sports activities sneakers value Rs. 500,” he reminisces. “Then I borrowed spikes from a senior participant. Once I acquired picked for U-19, I borrowed spikes from a buddy who had already performed U-19 for J&Okay. He gave me a spare pair,” he provides.From his first match price, Nabi purchased his first pair of spikes — which he nonetheless treasures.“They’ll keep in my home until my final breath. These sneakers had been step one towards a giant dream,” he says.Nabi needs to play for India, and the way in which he’s taking wickets, the “Dale Steyn of Baramulla” will not be removed from an India call-up.“Once I began taking cricket severely, my sole goal was to characterize India — to characterize my nation. Coming from Baramulla, even eager about taking part in on your nation is a giant factor. You don’t have position fashions.“Now, my solely aim is to play for India. Nothing else. I’ll hold working laborious to attain that,” he says.Throughout the Duleep Trophy, when he picked up a fifer for North Zone, his fast-bowling companions Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana boosted his confidence.“The duo saved telling me, ‘Paji, kaafi achha kar rahe ho, lage raho aap (You’re doing rather well, stick with it).’ I cherished taking part in with them,” he says.Lately, within the first spherical of the Ranji Trophy towards Mumbai, Nabi obtained a faucet on the again from selector Ajay Ratra, who was on the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium for the match.“Once I picked up 5 wickets within the second innings, I met Ajay sir within the crew resort, and he appreciated my bowling,” says Nabi.Future certain

Barring taking part in for India, Nabi’s distant dream is to open a cricket academy in Baramulla, the place he can nurture extra Auqibs. (PTI)

Regardless of all of the accolades and a focus, the Baramulla boy stays grounded. He believes in future and laborious work.“No matter is written for you, you’ll get it. Major mehnat kar sakta hoon, baaki Allah dekh lenge (I can solely work laborious; the remaining is in God’s arms),” he says.“For me, it began with gully cricket. We by no means had any correct floor. Now there are a pair, however again then there was completely nothing. I didn’t even know {that a} quick bowler wanted spikes. I by no means thought I’d come this far. I’m simply blessed,” he says.“The principle change I made was in my mindset. I began believing in myself. I ended eager about the outcomes. I centered extra on the method, and the remaining took care of itself.”Barring taking part in for India, Nabi’s distant dream is to open a cricket academy in Baramulla, the place he can nurture extra Auqibs.“I’d prefer to open an academy. There’s completely nothing right here. Once I began taking part in, I needed to go to Bengaluru for coaching and performed lower-division matches there. I wish to discover and practice extra Auqib Nabis from Baramulla,” he says.Previously few years, Nabi has been referred to as by a minimum of half a dozen IPL franchises for trials however is but to discover a crew.“I’ve given trials for MI (Mumbai Indians), RR (Rajasthan Royals), KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders), GT (Gujarat Titans), and SRH (Sunrisers Hyderabad). Final yr, DC (Delhi Capitals) referred to as me however I couldn’t go. I wish to play within the IPL — it’ll assist me obtain my dream of beginning an academy in Baramulla,” he says.It has been an extended journey for Nabi, and the street forward is simply as lengthy. However the “Dale Steyn of Baramulla” is aware of the worth of persistence and perseverance — and that he’s getting nearer to his dream.