‘He Helped Me Make My Debut’: Auqib Nabi Reveals the Guiding Force Behind His Stellar Rise

As the Indian Premier League 2026 got underway, Delhi Capitals’ young fast bowler Auqib Nabi - who recently shot to fame riding on his standout Ranji Trophy season - stands on the brink of a significant career milestone.

The right-arm pacer was acquired by DC for Rs 8. 6 crore. ,As he has now landed coveted IPL deal, Nabi credited two prominent figures of Indian cricket for shaping his career - Irfan Pathan and Parvez Rasool.

,Also Read: Yuvraj Singh Finally Reacts To Shubman Gill T20 World Cup Snub, Makes Huge Comment,Hailing from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, Nabi’s journey into professional cricket was anything but conventional.

With limited access to facilities in his early years, he honed his skills playing with tennis balls on roads and small school grounds. What set him apart, however, was a deep-rooted passion for the sport - one that persisted despite resistance at home.

,“I used to watch Dale Steyn a lot when I was young. The way he swung the ball at such a high pace inspired me to become a fast bowler and hopefully play for India one day.

I used to get scolded a lot by my father for constantly playing cricket because I didn't have his support. He wanted me to become a doctor,” Nabi said during an interaction with JioStar.

,The emergence of Parvez Rasool as Jammu and Kashmir’s first international cricketer played a defining role in shaping Nabi’s ambitions. Watching someone from his own region break into the Indian team made the dream feel tangible.

,“Parvez Rasool made his debut for India by performing well for RCB in the IPL. I was very motivated to play for India after seeing him do that. Parvez bhai is one of us, hailing from a local village in Jammu and Kashmir,” Nabi recalled.