Jammu & Kashmir had never won the Ranji Trophy before 2025-26.
They’d come close a few times but always fell short.
Then Auqib Nabi took the ball and changed everything.
Sixty wickets across 10 matches. An average of 12.57. Seven five-wicket hauls.
These aren’t just numbers in a record book.
They’re the story of how one pacer carried an entire state to its first domestic title.
When Karnataka batted in the final at Hubli, they were bowled out for 293. Nabi’s 5/54 sealed J&K’s win by first innings lead.
The right-arm pacer didn’t just break records. He created them for a state that had been waiting decades for this moment.
Top 5 Auqib Nabi Bowling Records in Ranji Trophy 2025-26
Understanding Nabi’s 60-Wicket Season
Taking 60 wickets in a Ranji season puts you in rare company. Only six other bowlers have done it, and only two pacers have taken more.
Jaydev Unadkat grabbed 67 in 2018-19. Dodda Ganesh picked up 62 in 1998-99. Nabi’s 60 places him third among fast bowlers.
But here’s what makes it special. His average of 12.57 is better than both Unadkat (13.23) and Ganesh (15.69).
He took more wickets than almost anyone while being more economical. That’s the mark of quality, not just quantity.
Across 10 matches, Nabi bowled with relentless accuracy. Seven times he took five wickets in an innings.
Twice he took four. Only one match went by without him making a significant impact. That’s consistency at the highest domestic level.
Bowling Records Set by Auqib Nabi in Ranji Trophy 2025-26
The record books needed updating after Nabi’s season. He became the first J&K bowler to cross 50 wickets in a Ranji campaign.
His previous best was 44 in 2024-25, so the jump to 60 showed massive improvement.
The seven five-wicket hauls tied the all-time pacer record. Only three other fast bowlers have managed it: Unadkat in 2019-20, Aniket Choudhary in 2018-19, and Lakshmipathy Balaji in 2002-03.
Spinners Ashutosh Aman (nine fifers) and Bishan Singh Bedi (eight) have done better, but among pacers, Nabi sits at the top.
His tally across two seasons reached 104 wickets. That’s 44 in 2024-25 and 60 in 2025-26. Only four other bowlers have crossed 100 wickets in consecutive Ranji seasons.
Ashutosh Aman leads with 117, followed by Kanwaljit Singh (113), Shahbaz Nadeem (107), and Jaydev Unadkat (106).
| Season Achievement | Nabi’s Numbers | All-Time Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Total wickets | 60 wickets in 10 matches | 3rd among pacers |
| Bowling average | 12.57 | Best among 60+ wicket-takers |
| Five-wicket hauls | 7 fifers | Joint 1st among pacers |
| Four-wicket hauls | 2 four-fors | Supporting performances |
| Two-season total | 104 wickets (2024-26) | 5th all-time |
Breaking Down the Five Major Milestones
- Creating J&K History
No Jammu & Kashmir bowler had taken 50 wickets in a Ranji season before Nabi. He didn’t just break that barrier. He went 10 wickets past it. His 60 wickets at 12.57 set a new standard for J&K cricket.
The state’s best performance before this was Nabi’s own 44-wicket season in 2024-25. Going from 44 to 60 in one year shows rapid development. It also shows what happens when a bowler hits peak form at the right time.
- Matching the Pacer Fifer Record
Seven five-wicket hauls in one season is extraordinary. Think about what it takes. You need good conditions, yes, but you also need the skill to capitalize. Nabi did it seven times across different venues and situations.
The final against Karnataka was one of those fifers. So were crucial spells in the knock-out rounds. These weren’t stat-padding performances on dead pitches. They were match-winning efforts when his team needed them.
- Joining the 100-Wicket Club
Adding 60 to his 44 from the previous season gave Nabi 104 wickets across two campaigns. That put him in exclusive company. Only Aman, Singh, Nadeem, and Unadkat had done it before.
What stands out is the average: 13.14 across both seasons. That’s elite-level domestic bowling. It means Nabi wasn’t just taking wickets. He was taking them cheaply and efficiently.
- Second-Best Two-Season Fifer Count
Thirteen five-wicket hauls across 2024-25 and 2025-26 rank second all-time for consecutive seasons. Only Ashutosh Aman’s 14 fifers in 2018-19 and 2019-20 surpass it.
This stat reveals Nabi’s ability to produce match-winning spells regularly. Thirteen times in two years, he took control of an innings and dismantled the opposition. That’s not luck. That’s skill and mental strength.
Third Pacer Ever in Single-Season Wickets
With 60 wickets, Nabi sits behind only Unadkat and Ganesh among pacers. Counting spinners, he’s seventh overall on the single-season list. But his average beats everyone else’s in that group.
Taking wickets is one thing. Taking them cheaply while doing so separates good from great. Nabi managed both.
The Finals Performance That Sealed Everything
J&K batted first in the final and posted 584.
Shubham Pundir made 121, Paras Dogra scored 70, and five batters crossed fifty. That gave Nabi a strong total to defend.
Karnataka started their reply knowing they needed to bat big. Nabi had other plans.
He took 5/54 as Karnataka crumbled to 293. The match ended there. J&K won by first innings lead, and the state had its first Ranji title.
But the final was just the last chapter. Nabi took 12 wickets in the quarter-final against Madhya Pradesh.
He grabbed nine against Bengal in the semi-final. That’s 26 wickets in three knock-out matches. When the pressure was highest, Nabi was at his best.
Tactical View: What Made Nabi So Effective?
The secret to Nabi’s success wasn’t a mystery. It was accuracy combined with relentless pressure.
He didn’t bowl unplayable magic balls every over. He built pressure through dot balls and then struck when batters tried to break free.
His average of 12.57 tells you he was getting wickets without going for runs.
In domestic cricket, that’s huge. Batters can’t just see him off and score against others. They had to take risks, and that’s when Nabi got them.
The seven fifers also show he could sustain that pressure across an entire innings.
It’s one thing to take three quick wickets. It’s another to keep coming back and finish with five or more. Nabi did that seven times in one season.
The knock-out performances reveal his mental game. Most bowlers feel the pressure in quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Nabi thrived on it. Twelve wickets, then nine, then five in the final. That’s championship-level bowling.
How does this season compare to Past Greats?
Unadkat’s 67-wicket season in 2018-19 remains the pacer benchmark. But Nabi’s 60 at a better average deserves recognition.
Ganesh’s 62 in 1998-99 came at 15.69, which is significantly higher than Nabi’s 12.57.
Among the seven fifers, only three other pacers have matched it. Unadkat, Choudhary, and Balaji all achieved it once.
Nabi joins that group while also being the third-highest wicket-taker among pacers.
The 104 wickets across two seasons put him fifth all-time. Aman’s 117 is the best, but Nabi’s 104 at 13.14 shows sustained quality.
He wasn’t having one great year. He was performing at an elite level for two straight seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What were Auqib Nabi’s main bowling records in Ranji Trophy 2025-26?
Nabi took 60 wickets at 12.57 with seven five-wicket hauls, becoming the first J&K bowler to cross 50 wickets and tying the pacer record for most fifers.
- How many wickets did Nabi take in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 knock-outs?
Nabi took 26 wickets in three knock-out matches: 12 in the quarter-final, nine in the semi-final, and five in the final.
- Where does Nabi rank among pacers for most wickets in one Ranji season?
Nabi ranks third among pacers with 60 wickets. Jaydev Unadkat (67) and Dodda Ganesh (62) are the only pacers with more.
- How many five-wicket hauls did Auqib Nabi take in 2025-26?
Nabi took seven five-wicket hauls in 2025-26, equaling the record for most fifers by a pacer in a single Ranji season.
- What is Nabi’s career first-class record?
Nabi has 156 wickets from 41 first-class matches, including 16 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket match hauls.
What do these records mean for Indian Cricket?
Auqib Nabi’s 60-wicket season isn’t just about personal achievement. It’s about what it did for Jammu & Kashmir cricket.
The state had always been an outsider in Indian domestic cricket. Now they’re champions, and Nabi was the reason.
The Delhi Capitals recognized that when they paid ₹8.4 crore for him in the IPL 2026 auction.
They saw a bowler who performs under pressure and delivers when it matters most. That’s exactly what Nabi proved across the 2025-26 season.
His records will stand in the books: third among pacers, joint-most fifers, first from J&K to cross 50 wickets.
But the real legacy is simpler. He showed that talent from smaller states can compete with and beat the traditional powerhouses. That’s what champions do.
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About the Author
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