Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi has set the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26 on fire and now the entire nation is talking about him and Sourav Ganguly’s latest name.
Auqib Nabi created 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 fast bowler took five wickets in the title match and it was his seventh five-wicket haul this season. This was also the 15th five-wicket haul of his Ranji career.
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With this magic he achieved a special achievement. Auqib Nabi has become the third player in the 92-year history of the tournament to take 60 wickets in a single Ranji season. His record performance has taken Jammu and Kashmir closer to their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
7 wickets in QF (1st innings)
5 wickets in QF (2nd innings)
5 wickets in SF (1st innings)
4 wickets in SF (2nd innings)
5 wickets in the final (1st innings)
clutch. Relentless. Invincible.
Auqib Nabi is made for the big stage – Jammu and Kashmir’s finest big-match player… pic.twitter.com/FhSCRXFE9E– Manas Dubey (@MANASDU06413436) 27 February 2026
In the final, Karnataka tried to make a comeback and Mayank Agarwal played a brilliant inning of 160, but Nabi trapped him in front and ended the threat. Later, he reached his 60-wicket mark by dismissing Shikhar Shetty.
After his remarkable efforts with the ball, fans and former cricketers started demanding his selection in the Indian Test team. This demand became more intense when former Indian captain and former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly also made this demand publicly.
Sourav Ganguly supports Auqib Nabi for England tour, tags BCCI in bold post
Ganguly praised Jammu and Kashmir for their efforts and strong mentality. He said that tough situations 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.
The legendary batsman even tagged BCCI, Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar and BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia in his social media post. His message was clear: take notice of Oqib Nabi.
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Sourav Ganguly wrote,
J&K has shown the world what effort and intention can do..They have made that region so proud..Tough environment makes tough people. Aaqib Nabi moves to national colors…England is the place to start the summer @bcci @imAagarkar @lonsaikia
– Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) 27 February 2026
Nabi’s IPL opportunity can turn India’s dream into reality
Well, it remains to be seen whether India’s call comes this summer or not. But before that, Nabi has a bigger platform to grab attention and that is the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He will play in IPL 2026 after Delhi Capitals bought him for a huge price of Rs 8.4 crore in the mini auction in December last year. The IPL will give him a golden opportunity to bowl against world-class batsmen and showcase his pace and swing under pressure and this may help his India dream come true soon.
Talking about the Ranji Trophy final, Jammu and Kashmir scored 584 runs in the first innings and then bowled out Karnataka for 293 runs. At present, they are leading by 334 runs against Karnataka after losing two wickets for just 11 runs in their second innings in Hubli.