IPL 2026: Who is Auqib Dar? All you need to know about J&K all-rounder who bagged 8.4 Cr in mini-auction

Auqib Dar hails from Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir and has been consistently performing in the Indian domestic circuit.

Abu Dhabi hosted the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction on December 16, and Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi was one player who was under the spotlight ahead of the event.

Nabi, a right-handed pacer and lower-order hitter, sees South African great Dale Steyn as his hero and inspiration and has stated that he copied his bowling action and loved his aggression and outswingers.

When Nabi’s name came up in the IPL 2026 auction, Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) went at it with bids that crossed INR 1 crore soon. Then Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) joined in at INR 2.2 crores, but DC kept going. They didn’t relent and finally got Auqib Dar for a massive INR 8.40 crores.

He has taken 125 wickets in 36 first-class matches so far. He has amassed 870 runs in his red-ball career, with his top score being 55, proving that he is capable of using both the ball and the willow.

In addition to first-class games, Auqib Nabi has participated in 34 Twenty20 matches and 29 List-A games, taking a total of 85 wickets.

Who is Auqib Dar?

Born in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, on November 4, 1996, Auqib Dar has made a name for himself as a key player for the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team.

In the 2019–20 Ranji Trophy, Auqib Dar made his first-class debut by taking five wickets against Jharkhand. Since then, he has represented Jammu and Kashmir in domestic cricket with consistently strong results.

For the first time in his career, the J&K bowler will compete in the IPL. With 29 wickets in five games, he is the second leading wicket-taker in the 2025 Ranji Trophy.  

The 29-year-old’s ability to stroke the ball both ways has been making waves in the domestic circuit. He has also maintained his red-ball form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year, taking 15 wickets in seven games. The medium-pacer’s repertoire also includes a deadly yorker.

In addition to SMAT, Nabi showed remarkable skill in the Ranji Trophy, taking 29 wickets in nine innings, including three fifers and an incredible 7/24 against Rajasthan, which enabled Jammu and Kashmir to go to the knockout stage.

The speedster was in outstanding form with the ball not just during the current domestic season but also during the previous one, taking 44 wickets at an incredible average of 13.93 in the Ranji Trophy.

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