Dinesh Karthik applauded the consistent efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi. In the final of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, the pacer is continuing his stellar form. During the writing of the article, the seamer already dismissed some of Karnataka’s star batters like KL Rahul, Karun Nair, and Smaran Ravichandran. Walking down memory lane, Dinesh Karthik can barely imagine a bowler dominating domestic tournaments for a long time.

For all aspirant cricketers who want to represent the country, Nabi is definitely a role model for them, the former India cricketer said on a social media post. After a dominating batting performance, Jammu and Kashmir is leading the race in the summit clash of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season. Batting first, J&K registered 584 runs against 10 wickets, supported by a standout 121-run knock by Shubham Pundir, and half-centuries each from Yawer Hassan, captain Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, and Sahil Lotra.

In Hubballi, where J&K batters arranged a run feast, Karnataka batters left in the middle, starving for runs, thanks to brilliant bowling spells by Auqib Nabi. Batters like KL Rahul and Karun Nair, who represented Team India before, are barely able to hold themselves against Nabi.

Smaran Ravichandran, who played multiple match-winning knocks for Karnataka in the recent past, also failed against the fast bowlers. If things go according to the projection, Jammu and Kashmir is only a few steps away from winning the trophy.

Karthik already congratulated Auqib Nabi for his historic difference-making performances. For the former keeper-batter, the 29-year-old is already a champion for him. “For all the young boys and girls out there playing this sport and wanting to represent the country, do it the AQUIB NABI way. Can’t think of any pacer/player in a long time doing what he’s done”, Karthik wrote on his ‘X’ post on February 26.

“Hats off to you AQUIB, you’re an absolute champion and hope you get a lot of success that comes your way, and may you be the lesson on. How it’s done to break the doors through sheer will power, skill, and resilience”, he further added.

Because of diverse conditions – weather conditions, pitch conditions – players have to go under different circumstances throughout a Ranji Trophy campaign. Across the nation, on different pitches, players need to adjust themselves to show their best. No matter what the situations were, Nabi proved his mettle.

“Fitness across the whole campaign, bowling those longgg spells and across different soils, weather conditions, and whether there’s been any help for a pacer or not, he’s been there for his team with the belief every time he’s had the ball to STRIKE for his team”, a part of the ‘X’ post reads.

Watching this Ranji Trophy campaign and following it closely , one thing I can say for certain

For all the young boys and girls out there playing this sport and wanting to represent the country,

Do it the AQUIB NABI way

Can’t think of any pacer/player in a long time doing…

— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 26, 2026