The rise of Auqib Nabi has been one of the standout stories of India’s domestic cricket season. The young fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir has built a reputation as a consistent wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy, delivering two remarkable seasons that have firmly placed him on the radar of cricket followers across the country. During the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy campaign, Nabi enjoyed a breakthrough season, finishing with 44 wickets — the second-highest tally in the tournament. Instead of slowing down, he elevated his performances even further this season.

The right-arm pacer picked up an impressive 55 wickets from just nine matches, playing a crucial role in helping Jammu and Kashmir reach their maiden Ranji Trophy final. Mohammad Nabi’s ability to swing the ball both ways has troubled batters throughout the competition. More importantly, he has shown that he can contribute with the bat as well. Earlier this year, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the talented all-rounder stunned many by scoring a brilliant century, highlighting his growing value as a multi-dimensional cricketer.

His consistent performances did not go unnoticed in the Indian Premier League. At the 2026 IPL auction, Nabi attracted significant attention before being picked up by the Delhi Capitals for a hefty ₹8.4 crore deal, instantly making him one of the most talked-about domestic players of the season.

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However, legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar believes the spotlight around Nabi raises a larger question about how domestic cricket achievements are perceived in the country. Writing in his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar pointed out that several outstanding performers in the Ranji Trophy often fail to receive the recognition they deserve.

“The Under-19 boys winning the World Cup shows that there is talent aplenty in Indian cricket,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote. “But often, the performers in the Ranji Trophy do not get the recognition their deeds deserve.”

The former India captain also highlighted several domestic players who have delivered exceptional performances with the bat this season but have largely gone unnoticed.

“Where are the stories of players like Ravichandran Smaran, Ayush Doseja, Sanat Sangwan, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Abhinav Tejrana, Siddhesh Lad, Aman Mokhade, Armaan Jaffer and Kunal Chandela, who have all scored over 700 runs this year?” Sunil Gavaskar asked. “Where are the write-ups on Mayank Mishra and Siddharth Desai, to name two bowlers who have taken more than 40 wickets this season?” he added.

Gavaskar also questioned whether Nabi’s sudden rise in media attention was largely linked to his IPL contract rather than purely his Ranji Trophy performances.

“Yes, there have been write-ups about Auqib Nabi. But could that be because he was snapped up in the IPL auction?” Sunil Gavaskar wrote. “If that had not happened, he too might have been ignored – like the names mentioned above. The Ranji Trophy is the national championship and should therefore be given prominence,” he added.

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“Perhaps because the players are not always on television, like the U-19 and IPL boys, their efforts do not get the gushing headlines that others receive. Then there is the lament that U-19 World Cups and the IPL are a shortcut to the India cap,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded. “But who is to be blamed? Only the selectors? Or also those who sideline Ranji Trophy performers to some remote corner of their papers, or do not even mention them on their television shows and public media platforms?”