The second day of the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy quarter-final between North Zone and East Zone was expected to be about Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. Both fast bowlers are playing their last competitive match before flying out for the Asia Cup. But instead, it was Jammu and Kashmir pacer who stole the spotlight with Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls, a spell that stunned everyone in Bengaluru.
Arshdeep Singh himself was in awe of Nabi’s performance. “I had not seen him bowl before. The first time was in the nets, and in just ten balls he picked up around seven wickets. That’s when I knew he was special. The ball comes out of his hand so smoothly, and today everyone saw the hard work he has put into domestic cricket. I believe he will pick up a lot of wickets in the future,” Arshdeep said after the day’s play.
Until Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls, the game was moving slowly. East Zone’s Virat Singh was batting steadily on 69 and looked set to end the day without further damage after surviving long spells from Arshdeep and Harshit. But what happened after 4:15 pm changed the match completely.
Four Wickets in Four Balls: A Rare Feat
Nabi showed why he was the highest wicket-taking fast bowler in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. In the 53rd over, he first sent back Virat Singh by knocking his middle stump with a quick delivery. Next ball, Manishi misjudged a skidding delivery and was trapped lbw. On the hat-trick ball, Assam’s Mukhtar Hussain had no clue about Nabi’s sharp in-swinger and lost his stumps.
That ended Nabi’s over, but he wasn’t finished. On the very first ball of his next over, he had Suraj Singh Jaiswal caught behind. With this, Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls made him only the fifth Indian bowler in history to achieve such a rare record in first-class cricket. Soon after, he dismissed Mohammed Shami lbw to complete his ninth five-wicket haul in just his 30th match.
His figures were extraordinary. After going wicketless in his first spell, where he conceded 23 runs in seven overs, he returned in his second spell with 5 wickets for just 5 runs in 3.1 overs. East Zone, who were 222 for 5 at one stage, collapsed to 230 all out, losing 5 wickets for 8 runs in 22 balls. The highlight remained Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls, which gave North Zone a 175-run lead and full control.
Reflecting on his performance, Nabi said: “This is a rare record, but more importantly, I gave my team the lead. I was beating the bat earlier and felt a bit unlucky. Today I just focused on bowling at one spot, and the breeze also helped me in the evening.”
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A Handy Batter Too
Nabi’s impact wasn’t limited to bowling. Earlier in the day, he played a crucial knock with the bat, scoring 44 runs off 33 balls, smashing four fours and two sixes. He shared a vital 66-run stand with Kanhaiya Wadhawan for the eighth wicket, which took North Zone’s total to a strong 405.
“When you bat well, it boosts your confidence, and that helps in bowling and fielding too,” Nabi explained. His all-round contribution combined with Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls proved how valuable he is becoming for his team.
A Journey of Hard Work and Determination
The last year and a half has been a breakthrough phase for Nabi. Before the 2024-25 Ranji season, he had 46 wickets in 20 matches. By the end of the season, he nearly doubled that tally by picking up 44 wickets in just eight matches, with six five-wicket hauls. His outstanding form, capped off by Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls in the Duleep Trophy, showed that Jammu and Kashmir cricket is producing top talent.
One of the highlights of his domestic career came against Mumbai, a team packed with international stars including Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, and Shardul Thakur. Nabi took six wickets in that match, dismissing several big names. Performances like those gave him the belief to deliver feats such as Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls.
Born in Baramulla, Kashmir, Nabi has had to overcome many challenges. Cricket facilities were scarce in his hometown, and the nearest proper ground was in Srinagar, a long distance away. But his determination kept him going, and it eventually led to Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls. His father, a schoolteacher, has been his biggest supporter.
“When your goal is to play for India, these things don’t matter. Even with limited resources, you must use them and keep improving. Excuses won’t help. My dream is simple, to wear the India whites one day,” Nabi said. His words reflected the same spirit that led to Auqib Nabi’s Sensational 4 Wickets in 4 Balls.
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