Auqib Nabi Shines on County Championship Debut with Wickets for Surrey

In his County Championship debut for Surrey, uncapped Indian pacer Auqib Nabi showcased his talent by taking a wicket in each innings against Yorkshire. Despite not having played for India yet, Nabi's performance highlights his potential. The match saw no half-centuries, with Surrey struggling in their batting. Nabi's impressive domestic record, including a key role in Jammu and Kashmir's Ranji Trophy victory, adds to the anticipation surrounding his future in cricket. Read on to discover more about his journey and performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 4, 2026, 23:59 IST

Impressive Debut for Auqib Nabi

London [UK], September 4 (Media House): Uncapped Indian fast bowler Auqib Nabi made a notable entrance in the County Championship while playing for Surrey, taking a wicket in each innings during his debut match.

Despite not having played for India in any format yet, Auqib was signed by Surrey for a three-match County Championship stint, with his first game against Yorkshire. In the opening innings, he dismissed his fellow Team India player Kuldeep Yadav, and in the second innings, he bowled out James Wharton.

So far, no player has scored a half-century in this match. Surrey opted to field first and managed to bowl out Yorkshire for a mere 185 runs, with Tom Lawes (4/36) and Daniel Worrall (3/40) leading the wicket-taking efforts. Wharton was the standout batsman for Yorkshire, scoring 45 runs.

Surrey struggled in their batting, collapsing for just 83 runs, with Ollie Pope being the top scorer at 21. This left Yorkshire with a 102-run lead. In their second innings, Yorkshire was dismissed for just 82 runs, with Matthew Fisher achieving a remarkable six-wicket haul, while William Luxton (29) was the only batsman to surpass 20 runs. Surrey now needed 185 runs to win, trailing by 184 runs.

Previously, Nabi was called up as a replacement for the renowned pacer Jasprit Bumrah for two Tests against Sri Lanka, but he did not get a chance to play as India chose Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj instead.

Nabi played a crucial role in Jammu and Kashmir's historic Ranji Trophy victory. He was also part of the India A team that toured Sri Lanka recently, where he took six wickets across two first-class matches.

The 29-year-old bowler took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, contributing significantly to Jammu and Kashmir's first-ever domestic title. He achieved this feat over 10 matches (17 innings) with an impressive average of 12.56, including seven five-wicket hauls, making him the tournament's leading wicket-taker.

Following his outstanding domestic performance, he was acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs 8.4 crore in the 2026 IPL auction. He participated in five matches but did not manage to take any wickets, conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.46.