Auqib Nabi, and the swing transformation that sparked a revolution

"Auqib, hum tumhare karzdaar hain"

Jammu & Kashmir are playing in the Ranji Trophy final, a first for them in 67 years. They owe it to Auqib Nabi and his record tally of 55 wickets (until the semifinals). Nabi has become the poster boy of J&K cricket, headlining a team that has broken through decades of slumber.

For the 29-year-old from Sheeri, Baramulla, nothing has come easy. Growing up, he watched cricket ardently but had barebones facilities. His family wasn't initially supportive. Parvez Rasool, his first senior J&K captain, notes Nabi had to travel 60 kilometres to train in Srinagar. "We had two grounds in the 70s, we still have just two grounds," Rasool says. "The kids have done a lot of hard work."

But for Nabi, it isn't just hard work—it's smart work.

When the seamer first broke into the J&K Ranji team, he had a good wrist position, a rhythmic action, and a natural outswinger. But there was no variety. When P Krishna Kumar became J&K's bowling coach in 2023/24, he helped realign Nabi's ability.

"I saw him bowling outswingers from the middle of the crease," Krishna says about their first meeting. "I asked him if he can bowl an inswinger, or what else he bowls alongside an outswinger?"

'Sir, mai toh yahi daalta hu,' replied Nabi.

"His run-up was also not very good. It was very slow."

Krishna went back to the basics of the grip, teaching him how to generate backspin. He worked on developing Nabi's swing both ways. By the next season, the ball started to swing late. "In the process, he learnt the inswinger, and how to position it differently from an outswinger. I gave him the awareness of his own action."

Krishna also worked on Nabi's alignment with the stumps, asking him to bowl from closer. It added to the raw potential Nabi showed in his debut Ranji season, where he took 24 wickets at 18.50.

But the last two seasons made Nabi headline material. J&K became a major talking point. Nabi secured a Duleep Trophy call-up and took four wickets in four balls for North Zone. He was then bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 8.4 crore in the IPL.

"It's important for a bowler to know how to describe themselves when asked," Krishna says. "What is my strength? What is my style? Earlier, Auqib did not know who he was."

Krishna found Nabi "very hardworking, keen to learn, and calm." The focus was on developing a 'feeling' through repetition, making control over swing second nature.

"Even if you ask Kapil Dev to bowl an outswinger now, he will, because that 'feeling' is there. Nabi has mastered that now. That is why he is taking so many wickets."

Training included specific skill sessions on wrist position and run-up. Accuracy was built through spot-bowling, which Krishna likens to playing marbles.

Nabi in the last two Ranji seasons

Updated till 2025/26 semifinals

On Indian pitches, Nabi's success comes from unerring accuracy tied to variety. Watch his highlights: two right-hander dismissals from the same release point—one hooping in, the other cutting away. "He swings it late," Krishna adds. "It's very difficult to pick him."

Dishant Yagnik, J&K's fielding coach, says, "In the last three years, he has really worked on bowling to left-handers in the nets."

Nabi in Ranji 2025/26: Venue-wise performance

Updated till 2025/26 semifinals

"What makes Auqib different is his mode of dismissals," Yagnik says. "It doesn't matter if there is help on the wicket or not. Batters are missing the line; when they leave, it swings in by 3.5 degrees. He never gets a soft dismissal."

Krishna notes the repeatability of his action and release point makes Nabi consistent. "As a coach, if I look at the biomechanics, he has a fantastic action."

Nabi idolised Dale Steyn growing up. He doesn't have Steyn's thin build or open-chested action, but he borrows the brilliance in release, moving the ball in and out.

His endurance is a big factor. Krishna attributes it to genetics and diet: "Most bowlers in J&K come from Kashmir and consume a lot of non-vegetarian food. The protein ratio is higher, which gives them an edge. They have higher endurance."

"Last game, he bowled ten overs at a stretch. With Nabi, because he has such a fluent run-up and smooth action, the load is very small on his body, so he can bowl longer spells."

Yagnik has worked on building a fitness culture in the team. "I try to get them tired in fielding sessions and then go to the nets and bowl. When you are tired and drained out, it's very difficult."

Yagnik jokes with Nabi: "We are indebted to you. Hum tumhare karzdaar hain. Whenever a wicket isn't falling, we tell Auqib: 'Brother, take this ball and get us a wicket.' And he always says, 'Yes sir, I will do it right away.'"

Nabi remains largely reserved but has started speaking more about his game. "In our team meetings, we give a voice to everyone," Yagnik says. "There's been a big change. At the start, he would barely say 15 words the whole day. Now, he says 30! He has started speaking about how to set up batters. He is still one of the calmest, zero-complaints guys."

A good IPL season will brighten the spotlight, but Krishna believes Nabi is already India-ready: "If a bowler is consistently performing and has taken 100 wickets in two years on Indian pitches, that is not easy. For Tests, everyone connects the pace factor, but look at the pitches he's bowling on. If you're getting Bengal out for 99, that is magical. If not India, at least give him a chance in India A."

For now, Nabi is in Hubbali, looking to make a big impression one last time this season. He recently shared how Rasool's rise a decade ago fuelled his dream. "When Rasool debuted for India, all of us realised a career in cricket was possible. He was one of us. I decided I could do it too," Nabi said.

"We didn't have any role models," Rasool says. "But after we started winning, and I got picked for India, the rest thought: 'We can do it too.' That motivation is much needed."

Title or no title, Nabi's success story is bound to spark a bigger revolution.