Auqib Nabi wins it for Jammu and Kashmir [Source: @danishnazirb/x]Jammu and Kashmir decimated Madhya Pradesh by 56 runs in the second quarter-final of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. Domestic veteran and Delhi Capitals star Auqib Nabi picked up 12 wickets in the match, including five in the decisive innings to storm his side into the semifinal of the tournament. The outcome marked a historic one for Jammu and Kashmir, considering they have booked a place in a Ranji Trophy semifinal for the first time in their 66-year history in Indian domestic cricket. Delhi Capitals star takes Jammu and Kashmir to its first Ranji semifinal Defending 291 for a win, Jammu and Kashmir folded up a strong Rajat Patidar-led Madhya Pradesh side for just 234 in 68.3 overs by Day 4. New ball paceman Auqib Nabi picked up five wickets in the decisive innings, which included the prized scalps of opener Yash Dubey and captain Patidar at an expense of just 70 runs in his 24 overs. Abid Mushtaq also picked up three wickets in the innings, and received additional assistance from Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh. Earlier in the match, Auqib Nabi picked up seven Madhya Pradesh wickets to claim sensational figures of 7-40 in his 18.4 overs. His astonishing spell helped Jammu and Kashmir attain a handy 42-run lead at the halfway stage of the match. For picking up 12 wickets across both innings at an expense of 110 runs, Auqib Nabi also fittingly bagged the ‘Player of the Match’ award after Jammu and Kashmir’s historic result. In-form Auqib Nabi primed for IPL debut this 2026 season Auqib Nabi picked up 12 wickets in the quarterfinal to extend his Ranji Trophy 2025-26 collection to 46 scalps from just 14 innings spanning eight matches. As of now, the 29-year-old speedster is placed second among the most successful bowlers of the tournament behind Uttarakhand’s Mayank Mishra. Nabi’s bowling average of 12.54 is also the best in the competition among all bowlers with more than 20 wickets to their name so far. Shortly after the conclusion of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, the Jammu and Kashmir star will join the Delhi Capitals franchise for IPL 2026. The cricketer was roped in by the franchise a couple of months ago during the IPL 2026 auction for a staggering sum of Rs. 8.40 crores, the second highest among all uncapped Indian stars behind Prashant Veer. Jammu and Kashmir prep for historic Ranji Trophy semifinal The Jammu and Kashmir team, under the leadership of Paras Dogra, has now reached the semifinal of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, their first in the history of the tournament. The match will be played between February 15 and February 19 next week. Apart from Auqib Nabi, fellow fast bowler Sunil Kumar and left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq will also be key figures to watch, given the form and impact they have shown with the ball throughout the campaign.
