amidst ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026Delhi Capitals fast bowler Auqib Nabi has given huge credit to former India cricketers Irfan Pathan and Parvez Rasool for their rapid rise to the top level of cricket. The cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir believes that without the support of his gurus, he would not have become what he is today.
During a recent interaction, Nabi also spoke about his journey of adopting cricket as his first love from a very young age. He also mentioned how legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn inspired him to take up fast bowling with the dream of representing the country. Nabi also shared how, despite lack of family support, where his father wanted him to become a doctor, he continued with his cricket dream.
“I started playing cricket with tennis balls when I was in 5th or 6th class. There was no special place in Baramulla to practice. So we used to play on the road or in the small school grounds. I used to watch Dale Steyn a lot when I was young. The way he used to swing the ball at such a fast pace inspired me to become a fast bowler and hopefully play for India one day. I got a lot of scolding from my father for playing cricket continuously Because I didn't get his support, he wanted me to become a doctor,” Nabi said via JioStar.
For those who are unaware, Pravez Rasool Became the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to play at the international level. Nabi, who came into the J&K setup during Rasool's final years, said having someone from the state playing for the Indian team was a big inspiration for him and all the budding cricketers at home.
“Parvez Rasool made his debut for India by performing well for RCB in the IPL. After seeing him do that, I was very inspired to play for India. Parvez Rasool Brother One of us is from a local village in Jammu and Kashmir. I first made my mark during the Under-19 days when I was selected for the trials of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team. I didn't have spike shoes at that time, so I borrowed shoes from a senior. His trial was in the first half and mine was in the second half. I made my junior debut for Jammu and Kashmir wearing spikes which I had borrowed from a friend,” he said.
Regarding Irfan, Nabi also told how the former Indian all-rounder had taken steps to help Nabi get recognition. Nabi also said that the Baroda-born player used to give him a lot of tips and being his disciple in Jammu and Kashmir, he learned a lot and eventually became stronger in his game.
“When Irfan Brother Joined as a mentor for Jammu and Kashmir, I was in the Under-23 team and my performance there caught their attention. He helped me make my debut for the Jammu and Kashmir senior team. He used to guide me a lot by giving me tips and was very helpful. He is a legendary player of Team India and my experience with Irfan Bhai was very good,” said the Baramulla-born player.
I saw Nabi for the first time in 2018: Irfan Pathan
Meanwhile, the former India all-rounder also recalled the time when he initially watched Nabi, who was slowly rising to make his way into the senior team. The cricketer turned commentator further said how much of an impact Nabi left on him with his ability to extract late movement from the cricket ball.
“I saw Auqib Nabi For the first time in 2018. When I was the mentor of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team, we wanted a strong group of eight to ten fast bowlers. We wanted to have a big group and Auqib was one of the key fast bowlers. When I saw him for the first time, the most special thing was that he used to bowl long spells, especially in Under-23 and junior cricket. He was very impressive. Secondly, his ability to move the ball for long periods of time was very impressive.”
It seems that Nabi may make his IPL debut during the upcoming Match 8 of the tournament between DC and Mumbai Indians. The game will be played on Saturday, April 4 at noon time and it will be interesting to see if Nabi will be handed the cap for the first time to represent his franchise in the biggest cricket extravaganza.
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