The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy final at Hubli wasn’t supposed to go this way.
Karnataka, eight-time champions, batted second after Jammu & Kashmir posted 584.
They needed to bat well to avoid losing the first innings lead. Then Auqib Nabi ran through them.
Five wickets for 54 runs. Karnataka all out for 293. J&K crowned champions for the first time in history.
Nabi’s spell in that final capped off a season where he took 60 wickets in 10 matches.
Those numbers tell part of the story. The real story is how he got them.
Auqib Nabi Bowling Records in Ranji Trophy 2025-26
The Numbers Behind Nabi’s Historic Campaign
Sixty wickets at an average of 12.57. That’s what Auqib Nabi delivered in Ranji Trophy 2025-26. He didn’t just cross 50 wickets.
He became the first Jammu & Kashmir bowler to do it. His seven five-wicket hauls matched the record for most fifers by a pacer in one season.
The consistency was striking. Two four-wicket hauls and seven five-fors across 10 matches meant he was taking crucial wickets regularly.
His average of 12.57 shows he wasn’t just cleaning up the tail. He was getting set batters out cheaply.
Compare that to his 2024-25 season, when he took 44 wickets. The jump to 60 wasn’t a gradual improvement. It was a statement.
Nabi had improved his skills and his mental game. The knock-out rounds proved it.
Key Bowling Records Set by Auqib Nabi in Ranji Trophy 2025-26
The record books now have Nabi’s name all over them. Third among pacers for most wickets in a Ranji season.
Joint-most five-wicket hauls by a pacer in one campaign. Fifth bowler to take 100 wickets across two consecutive seasons.
Each record represents something different. The 60-wicket tally shows sustained performance.
The seven fifers prove match-winning ability. The two-season total of 104 wickets demonstrates this wasn’t a one-off purple patch.
| Milestone | Details | Historical Context |
|---|---|---|
| 60 wickets in season | 10 matches, 12.57 average | 3rd best by pacer all-time |
| 7 five-wicket hauls | Equal record for pacers | Matches Unadkat, Choudhary, Balaji |
| 104 wickets (2 seasons) | 18 matches, 13.14 average | 5th bowler to achieve this |
| 13 fifers (2 seasons) | 2024-25 and 2025-26 | 2nd best across two years |
| First 50+ for J&K | State record broken | Previous best was 44 (by Nabi) |
Where Nabi Ranks Among Ranji Trophy Pace Legends?
Only two pacers have taken more wickets than Nabi in a single Ranji season. Jaydev Unadkat grabbed 67 in 2018-19.
Dodda Ganesh picked up 62 in 1998-99. Nabi’s 60 puts him third on that list.
What makes his performance stand out is the average. Nabi’s 12.57 beats both Unadkat (13.23) and Ganesh (15.69).
He was more economical while still being prolific. That’s rare in domestic cricket, where conditions can vary wildly.
The seven five-wicket hauls equal the pacer record. Unadkat did it in 2019-20.
Aniket Choudhary matched it in 2018-19. Lakshmipathy Balaji achieved it back in 2002-03. Only spinners have done better.
Ashutosh Aman leads with nine fifers in 2018-19, and Bishan Singh Bedi took eight in 1974-75.
Two-Season Dominance: 104 Wickets and Counting
Across 2024-25 and 2025-26, Nabi has 104 wickets from 18 matches. His average of 13.14 across both seasons shows this isn’t form.
Its ability. Five bowlers have crossed 100 wickets in consecutive Ranji seasons, and Nabi is one of them.
Ashutosh Aman leads with 117 wickets. Kanwaljit Singh, who played for Hyderabad and Tamil Nadu, took 113 in 1998-99 and 1999-00.
Shahbaz Nadeem grabbed 107 for Jharkhand in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Jaydev Unadkat managed 106 in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Nabi’s 13 five-wicket hauls across these two years rank second all-time. Only Aman’s 14 fifers in 2018-19 and 2019-20 are better.
This stat reveals something important. Nabi doesn’t just take wickets. He takes them in bunches when his team needs them most.
The Knock-Out Surge That Won J&K The Title
Numbers matter, but context matters more. Nabi’s performances in the knock-out stages turned J&K from contenders into champions.
Twelve wickets in the quarter-final against Madhya Pradesh. Nine in the semi-final against Bengal. Five in the final against Karnataka.
That’s 26 wickets in three knock-out matches. More than 40% of his season tally came when elimination was on the line.
Some bowlers shrink under pressure. Nabi grew bigger.
In the final, J&K batted first and put up 584. Shubham Pundir scored 121, captain Paras Dogra made 70, and five batters crossed fifty.
That gave Nabi runs to bowl with. His 5/54 ensured Karnataka couldn’t get close. They were bowled out for 293, and J&K won by first innings lead.
Expert Insight: What Separates Good From Great?
My take? The difference between a good domestic bowler and a great one isn’t talent. It’s consistency under different conditions and pressure situations. Nabi showed both.
Seven fifers across one season means he could bowl teams out on varied surfaces. The Ranji Trophy takes you from spinning tracks to green seamers.
Nabi adapted. His average of 12.57 proves he wasn’t feasting on weak batting line-ups either.
The mental side stands out too. Taking 12 wickets in a quarter-final requires stamina and focus. Nine in a semi-final means handling expectation.
Five in a final means delivering when one mistake could cost your team history. Nabi did all three.
Delhi Capitals paying ₹8.4 crore for him in the IPL 2026 auction makes sense now.
They didn’t buy potential. They bought proven performance under pressure. That’s what franchises value most.
Comparing Nabi’s 2025-26 to Other Record Seasons
Let’s be clear about what 60 wickets means. Since 2000, only a handful of pacers have crossed 60 wickets in a Ranji season.
Unadkat’s 67 is the benchmark. Nabi’s 60 isn’t far behind, and his average is better.
The seven fifers in one season is another marker. Only three other pacers have managed it.
Most quality bowlers might get four or five fifers in an exceptional season. Seven requires sustained excellence and a bit of luck with conditions.
His first-class career stats back up the quality.
From 41 matches, Nabi has 156 wickets with 16 fifers and four 10-wicket match hauls. Those are numbers that suggest longevity, not a flash in the pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What bowling records did Auqib Nabi set in Ranji Trophy 2025-26?
Nabi took 60 wickets at 12.57, becoming the first J&K bowler to cross 50 wickets in a season. He equaled the pacer record with seven five-wicket hauls.
- How does Nabi’s 60-wicket season rank among pacers?
Nabi ranks third among pacers for most wickets in a single Ranji season. Only Jaydev Unadkat (67) and Dodda Ganesh (62) have taken more.
- How many wickets has Nabi taken across two Ranji seasons?
Nabi has 104 wickets across 2024-25 and 2025-26, making him the fifth bowler to reach 100 wickets in consecutive campaigns.
- What was Nabi’s role in J&K’s Ranji Trophy title win?
Nabi took 5/54 in the final against Karnataka, plus 12 wickets in the quarter-final and nine in the semi-final, leading J&K to their first title.
- How many five-wicket hauls did 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.
Why This Season Matters Beyond Statistics?
Auqib Nabi’s 60-wicket season changed Jammu & Kashmir cricket forever.
Before 2025-26, J&K had never won the Ranji Trophy. They’d never had a bowler cross 50 wickets in a season.
Both changed because one pacer decided to own the moment.
The records are impressive. Third-best pacer in Ranji history for wickets in a season. Joint-most fifers.
Fifth to reach 100 across two years. But the real achievement is simpler. Nabi took responsibility and delivered.
You can’t fake 26 wickets in three knock-out matches. You can’t luck into seven five-wicket hauls.
That’s skill, preparation, and mental toughness.
That’s what makes Auqib Nabi Bowling Records in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 worth remembering.
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