Auqib Nabi went from borrowing money just to attend cricket trials to signing an ₹8.40 crore IPL contract — all in the span of a few years.
The Jammu & Kashmir pace sensation is now one of Indian domestic cricket’s most talked-about names.
In this article, you will find everything about Auqib Nabi’s net worth, his IPL salary with Delhi Capitals, career earnings, domestic contracts, and the story behind his extraordinary rise.
Auqib Nabi’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Auqib Nabi Dar |
| Date of Birth | 4 November 1996 |
| Age | 29 years |
| Birthplace | Baramulla, Jammu & Kashmir, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm medium pace |
| Current Team | Delhi Capitals (IPL), Jammu & Kashmir (domestic) |
| Turned Professional | 2018 (List A debut) |
| Mentor/Coach | Irfan Pathan |
| Estimated Net Worth | ₹9 crore |
| IPL Contract | ₹8.40 crore (Delhi Capitals) |
| @auqib_nabi |
Early Life & Career
Auqib Nabi Dar grew up in Sheeri village, Baramulla — a region in Jammu & Kashmir where curfews were common and cricket infrastructure barely existed.
As a child, he spent hours imitating the bowling action of his idol, South African fast bowling legend Dale Steyn, on the streets of his neighbourhood.
His father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, a schoolteacher, had different plans for his son — he wanted him to pursue medicine and focus on academics.
Auqib was a late bloomer by cricket’s standards. He was good at studies and had no formal coaching growing up in Baramulla.
It was a talent hunt that changed everything — when his friend failed the under-16 J&K Cricket Association trials, Auqib decided to attend the next one on a whim, and that moment set his path in motion.
His family eventually supported his decision after seeing his raw talent and dedication to the sport.
He trained hard, honing his ability to move the ball both ways with a high-arm action. Despite limited resources, Nabi remained focused on his goal.
He reportedly borrowed money just to travel to and attend his earliest cricket trials — a detail that makes his later ₹8.40 crore IPL deal even more remarkable.
Professional Career
Auqib made his List A debut for Jammu & Kashmir in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy on September 23, 2018, marking his entry into senior domestic cricket.
His T20 debut followed in November 2019, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and his first-class debut came in January 2020 in the Ranji Trophy, where he quickly announced himself with a five-wicket haul (5/39) against Odisha.
Season after season, Nabi grew more lethal. In the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, he picked up 44 wickets — the second-highest total in the entire tournament — at an average of just 13.93 and a strike rate of 30.47.
His selection for North Zone in the 2025–26 Duleep Trophy followed, where he famously took four wickets in four consecutive balls against East Zone.
The 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season was the breakthrough of his career. Auqib finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 60 wickets in 10 matches at a staggering average of 12.65, including seven five-wicket hauls.
His haul is the seventh-highest by any bowler in a single Ranji Trophy edition and the third-highest ever among fast bowlers, behind only Jaydev Unadkat’s 67 (2019–20) and Dodda Ganesh’s 62 (1998–99), according to ESPNcricinfo’s statistical analysis.
Nabi was awarded Player of the Tournament as J&K lifted their maiden Ranji Trophy title. As covered by India Today, Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani backed Nabi strongly ahead of IPL 2026.
Nabi is also a capable lower-order batter. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26, he smashed a stunning 114 off 82 balls — his maiden career century — rescuing J&K from 90/7 to win by three wickets.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly publicly called on chief selector Ajit Agarkar to pick Nabi for India’s white-ball tour of England in July 2026, describing him as someone “on his way to national colours”.
Auqib Nabi’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Auqib Nabi’s has an estimated net worth of ₹9 crore.
He built this wealth primarily through his IPL 2026 contract with Delhi Capitals and years of domestic cricket earnings across formats for Jammu & Kashmir.
Contract
Auqib Nabi entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi with a base price of just ₹30 lakh.
A fierce four-way bidding war erupted, and Delhi Capitals ultimately secured him for ₹8.40 crore — a deal that made him the most expensive Kashmiri player in IPL history and 28 times his reserve price.
As reported by Latestly Sports, Delhi Capitals also have a separate allocation of ₹12.60 crore per season specifically for player match fees under BCCI rules.
On the domestic front, Nabi has been under a J&K state association contract since making his debut in 2018, earning BCCI-grade domestic match fees across Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Salary
Nabi’s primary salary in 2026 comes from his ₹8.40 crore IPL deal with Delhi Capitals.
On top of the auction price, BCCI rules entitle IPL players to additional per-match fees paid separately by the franchise.
For a player participating in all 14 league-stage matches, this amounts to approximately ₹1.05 crore in additional seasonal earnings.
Prior to his IPL windfall, Nabi’s income came from BCCI’s domestic cricket grade contracts and match fees earned playing for Jammu & Kashmir — a modest but growing income given his consistent wicket-taking across multiple seasons.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Format | Achievement | Approx. Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–2020 | Domestic (J&K debut) | List A & FC debut | BCCI grade match fees |
| 2024–25 | Ranji Trophy | 44 wickets (2nd highest) | BCCI domestic grade fees |
| 2025–26 | Ranji Trophy | 60 wickets — Player of Tournament | BCCI domestic + bonus |
| 2026 | IPL (Delhi Capitals) | ₹8.40 crore auction price | ₹8.40 crore + match fees (~₹1.05 crore) |
Endorsements
Auqib Nabi’s IPL 2026 fame has already attracted brand attention, marking the early stages of a commercial career to go with his cricketing one.
The most confirmed deal is with Athwas Retail, a Jammu & Kashmir-based retail brand that signed Nabi as their official Brand Ambassador ahead of IPL 2026.
The brand publicly celebrated his Delhi Capitals debut in April 2026, calling his journey “from dreams to reality” — a story that aligned well with their regional identity and youth-focused positioning.
Beyond Athwas Retail, no other national-level commercial endorsement agreements have been publicly confirmed as of April 2026.
However, Nabi’s IPL profile has already placed him in front of mainstream audiences, and the sheer scale of his auction price — 28 times his base price — made him a viral story across Kashmir and India alike.
Career Statistics
| Format | Team | Span | Matches | Innings | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | 5-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | Jammu & Kashmir | 2020–2026 | 40+ | — | 150+ | 7/24 | 18.00 | 8+ |
| Ranji Trophy 2024–25 | Jammu & Kashmir | 2024–25 | — | — | 44 | — | 13.93 | — |
| Ranji Trophy 2025–26 | Jammu & Kashmir | 2025–26 | 10 | 17 | 60 | 7/24 | 12.56 | 7 |
| List A (VHT 2025–26) | Jammu & Kashmir | 2025–26 | 7 | — | 14 | — | — | — |
| T20 (SMAT 2025) | Jammu & Kashmir | 2025 | 7 | — | 15 | — | 13.26 | — |
| IPL | Delhi Capitals | 2026 | 1 (debut) | — | 0 | — | — | — |
FAQs
What is Auqib Nabi’s net worth?
Auqib Nabi’s estimated net worth is around ₹9 crore. He earned most of this through his ₹8.40 crore IPL 2026 contract with Delhi Capitals plus domestic cricket earnings.
How much did Delhi Capitals pay for Auqib Nabi in the IPL 2026 auction?
Delhi Capitals bought Auqib Nabi for ₹8.40 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, making him the most expensive Kashmiri player in IPL history. His base price was just ₹30 lakh.
How many wickets did Auqib Nabi take in the Ranji Trophy 2025–26?
He took 60 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 12.56, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker and winning Player of the Tournament as J&K claimed their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
Who is Auqib Nabi’s mentor?
Irfan Pathan, the former India all-rounder, has served as Auqib Nabi’s coach and mentor during his domestic career. Pathan’s guidance played a key role in shaping his fast bowling skills.
Has Auqib Nabi been considered for the Indian national team?
Yes. Former India captain and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly publicly urged chief selector Ajit Agarkar to pick Auqib Nabi for India’s white-ball tour of England in July 2026, citing his skill in swinging conditions.
