From the pebble-strewn open grounds of Shiri village to scripting history in the Ranji Trophy, fast bowler Auqib Nabi has carved a journey defined by persistence, restraint and a father’s gradual acceptance of an uncertain dream. The 20-something pacer recently emerged as one of the standout performers of the domestic season, becoming the third fastest bowler in the tournament’s 92-year history to claim 60 wickets in a single campaign. For a region where cricket narratives are often overshadowed by political and social complexities, Nabi’s rise offers a story rooted in middle-class anxieties, quiet resilience and unwavering belief.
His father, Ghulam Nabi, a government schoolteacher in Shiri, admits he initially resisted his son’s cricketing ambitions. A fan of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he understood the game’s appeal but feared its uncertainties. Auqib had excelled academically, topping his zone in middle school, and his father hoped he would pursue medicine. Concerns about stability, safety and limited sports infrastructure in Kashmir weighed heavily on the family. When the young cricketer would disappear for long practice sessions without informing anyone, it deepened his father’s apprehensions about the risks that could derail a promising academic future.
Yet the shy and introverted Auqib refused to abandon his calling. Despite being scolded, restricted and repeatedly urged to focus on studies, he responded with silence and determination rather than defiance. Facilities were scarce; the so-called ground in Baramulla was an uneven stretch of land covered with pebbles. He failed to make the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association’s Under-19 side in his first two attempts before finally earning selection on his third trial. A turning point came when his father watched him bat in a local league in Srinagar around 2014-15, recognising a level of skill and conviction that could not be dismissed as a passing hobby.
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Financial strain added another layer of difficulty. Supporting professional training meant borrowing money at times, but the family resolved not to let financial hardship end his pursuit. Local institutions, including the Baramulla Cricket Club, offered assistance, and even bus operators waived fares as he travelled nearly 60 kilometres daily for practice. His performances in domestic competitions, including a memorable four wickets in four balls in the Duleep Trophy, reinforced the belief that his potential extended beyond regional cricket. Still, setbacks such as repeated omissions from India A squad and early snubs at Indian Premier League auctions tested both the player's and his family’s patience.
The breakthrough season in the Ranji Trophy finally validated years of perseverance. As Jammu and Kashmir pushed deep into the competition, Nabi’s disciplined spells dismantled established batting line-ups and earned national attention. Off the field, however, he remained understated, never refusing a request from neighbourhood children to bowl a few deliveries and rarely expressing disappointment publicly. His father says he learned to read his son’s silences, sensing both his hunger for success and his quiet resolve to let performances speak louder than words.
Today, Ghulam Nabi’s fears have given way to pride, though his wishes remain simple: that his son stays safe and one day represents India on the international stage. Gratified by public praise from Tendulkar, whom he still reverently calls "Sir", the father draws inspiration from the cricketing great’s own journey, supported by a family that believed in him. In Baramulla’s modest lanes, Auqib Nabi’s story now stands as evidence that even in the most unlikely settings, belief — as he once summed up in a single word — can change the course of a life.
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