Indian Bowler Auqib Nabi Joins Surrey for County Championship Matches
Auqib Nabi Signs with Surrey
In a significant move, Surrey has acquired Indian fast bowler Auqib Nabi for their upcoming three matches in the County Championship. The talented player from Jammu and Kashmir will compete in Division One matches against Yorkshire, Sussex, and Glamorgan.
Surrey Cricket announced on social media, "We have secured the services of Auqib Nabi for the next three County Championship matches. He played a crucial role in Jammu & Kashmir's historic Ranji Trophy victory this year, earning the Player of the Year title with an impressive tally of 60 wickets."
Nabi was also called up as a replacement for the renowned Jasprit Bumrah during two Tests against Sri Lanka, although he did not get a chance to play as India opted for Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj instead.
His contributions were vital in Jammu and Kashmir's first Ranji Trophy win, and he was part of the India A team that toured Sri Lanka recently, where he took six wickets across two first-class matches.
At 29, Nabi's remarkable performance in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season saw him take 60 wickets in just 10 matches (17 innings), achieving an outstanding average of 12.56, which included seven five-wicket hauls, making him the tournament's leading wicket-taker.
Following his domestic success, he was acquired by Delhi Capitals for ₹8.4 crore during the 2026 IPL auction. Although he played five matches, he struggled to take wickets, with an economy rate of 11.46.
Surrey has a history of featuring Indian players, including Sai Sudharsan in 2023 and 2024, and Mahipal Lomror, who was signed for six matches earlier this month. Indian spinner Rahul Chahar is also contracted with the club.
Nabi received all necessary work visa approvals on Saturday and promptly boarded the first available flight, with his debut expected against Yorkshire at The Oval on Wednesday.