New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir continued their historic run in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 with a landmark win against Bengal in the semifinal to reach the first final of India’s premier red-ball domestic competition. J&K sealed their spot in the final by edging past Bengal in a thrilling match at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani.
Batting first, Bengal posted a decent 328 in their first innings and took a 26-run lead after J&K’s reply of 302. However, the game turned on its head in the second innings when Bengal were bowled out for a paltry 99. Chasing a target of 126 runs, J&K crossed the finishing line on the final day with six wickets to spare.
While the foundation of J&K’s historic win was built on a superb team effort, Auqib Nabi played the most important role with a sensational all-round performance. The fast-bowling all-rounder, also known as the ‘Baramulla Express’, bagged nine wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in Bengal’s first innings (5/87 and 4/36) and a four-fer in the second essay.
Auqib Nabi: ‘Baramulla Express’ delivers big
Nabi has enjoyed another prolific campaign in the domestic circuit. Courtesy of his nine-wicket haul, Nabi became the first fast bowler to complete 50 wickets this season. He has 55 wickets across nine games (16 innings) in his kitty – joint most alongside Uttarakhand’s Mayank Mishra. Nabi, who boasts a stunning average of 12.72, which is the best among bowlers with at least 22 wickets, has the chance to finish as the highest wicket-taker when he takes the field in the final.
The 29-year-old pacer, whose tally of six five-wicket hauls is also the most for any bowler in the ongoing season, is the first J&K bowler to get 50 wickets. Boasting the second-best figures this season (12/110 vs Madhya Pradesh in the semifinal), Nabi has caught the attention of the national selectors.
Auqib Nabi celebrates after the wicket of Bengal’s Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal during the third day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal cricket match between Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI Photo)
Nabi’s stats hard to ignore
With 150 First Class wickets in just 40 matches at an astounding average of 18.62, including 15 five-wicket hauls in FC cricket, Nabi has been one of the consistent performers in the country over the last two seasons. In the 2024-25 season, he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 44 wickets at 13.93.
With back-to-back prolific seasons, Nabi is knocking at national team door really hard.
BCCI president Mithun Manhas, who once served as one of the administrators of J&K cricket, believes that national selectors must be taking note of Nabi’s performance.
“Obviously Nabi has been terrific for J&K and has done what is expected of him. He has been a match-winner and has won the big games for past two seasons. Now selection is something that I shouldn’t be commenting on as the BCCI president.
“Yes, as a cricketer, I can say he is knocking at the doors of national team. Now it is up to selection committee to see what kind of role he fits in,” Manhas told PTI.
Manhas played a key role in uplifting J&K cricket. The former Delhi cricketer, who got the house in order at a time when the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) was dealing with mismanagement and allegations of corruption, was delighted with the historic win for J&K.