Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi, who got his first Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) contract after Delhi Capitals (DC) purchased him for a hefty sum of INR 8.4 crores at the auction, converted into a batsman and displayed his hitting skill by scoring a match-winning century in the current Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT 2025-26).
During the match against Hyderabad today (January 8), Nabi was able to score his first hundred of the career and thus help the team J&K get out of a tight corner and move ahead to a fantastic win. With his side down to 90/7 in their chase of 269, Auqib Nabi smashed an 82-ball 114, made up of 10 fours and 7 sixes, to win the match by three wickets.
Nabi was supported by Vanshaj Sharma’s 69 from the other end, and the pair created a huge 182-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Auqib Nabi in terrific domestic form
If Nabi’s recent batting heroics are going to be a plus for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, he has also been very consistent with the ball.
Nabi is one of the leading players in the Indian domestic circuit. The 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season saw him taking 44 wickets, which made him the second-highest wicket-taker of the season. He also gained attention during the 2025 Duleep Trophy when he was one of the few Indian bowlers to take four wickets in four balls during first-class cricket.
In the ongoing season, Auqib Nabi is still the undisputed star with the ball in all formats of cricket. He has been the leading wicket-taker for his team in the limited-overs forms – in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT 2025) and in the VHT 2025-26. The 29-year-old claimed 15 scalps in just 7 innings at a phenomenal average of 13.26 and a nice economy of 7.41 in SMAT while he has already taken 14 wickets in 7 matches in the domestic 50-over tournament.
Nabi’s bowling prowess coupled with his latest batting successes will make him a crucial component in the DC lineup for the upcoming IPL 2026 season as they aim for their first IPL championship.