This J&K Pacer set to Bowl Alongside Bumrah in IPL 2026

Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi, who has been in outstanding form this Ranji season with 29 wickets from five matches at an average of 13.27, attended trials with the Mumbai Indians on Friday at their Ghansoli training facility.

Although Nabi has never featured in the IPL, he has previously been part of Sunrisers Hyderabad as a net bowler and, more recently, took part in trials with the Delhi Capitals. The IPL auction is set for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, and his strong domestic performances have put him on the radar of several teams.

The pacer from Baramulla was the leading fast bowler in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy, picking up 44 wickets at 13.93, finishing second only to left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey in the overall list. He also grabbed attention during the Duleep Trophy in August, when he sensationally claimed four wickets in four deliveries for North Zone against East Zone in Bengaluru.

Auqib Nabi IPL 2026 Debut Confirmed for Mumbai Indians?

According to Mumbai Mirror, Auqib Nabi was at the Mumbai Indians’ Ghansoli facility on Friday to take part in the franchise’s trials. Although he has been in exceptional form in first-class cricket recently, his T20 record is still a work in progress.

Nabi entered the T20 scene in 2019 and has since taken 28 wickets from 27 matches, averaging 26.39. With Arjun Tendulkar moving to the Lucknow Super Giants as part of a pre-auction trade, the Mumbai Indians may see Nabi as a replacement.

Jammu and Kashmir’s cricketing talent has grown remarkably in recent years, producing talents like Rasikh Salam, Abdul Samad, Yudhvir Singh, and Umran Malik. This season, Nabi has played a major role in J&K’s impressive run, helping them climb to second place on the points table with 20 points from five games and just a single loss.

With the Mumbai Indians carrying a remaining purse of INR 2.75 crore, Nabi emerges as a budget-friendly option who can strengthen their pace attack, and Auqib Nabi with Jasprit Bumrah, would provide a good partnership for the MI with the new ball. He could become one of the best bowlers in IPL in the future.

The franchise has already been active ahead of the season, securing several key trades: Mayank Markande from Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 30 lakh, Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans for INR 2.6 crore, and Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants for INR 2 crore. Auqib Nabi MI inclusion might also strengthen the bowling core of the franchise.

Mumbai Indians Retains Their Core Ahead of IPL Auction 2026

Mumbai Indians have approached IPL 2026 by retaining the backbone of their side: Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma. They’ve also kept a strong overseas contingent, including Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, and Corbin Bosch.

They have also invested equally in youth, which is evident by the retention of emerging talents like Naman Dhir, Ashwani Kumar and Robin Minz. Ahead of the auction, MI strengthened key areas through smart trades, bringing in Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford and Mayank Markande, while parting ways with players like Reece Topley, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Arjun Tendulkar (who moved to LSG).

With only ₹2.75 crore left in their purse, the franchise is expected to adopt a strategy to get cost-effective bowlers or all-rounders who can fit specific gaps and so that team can take the legacy of being best team in IPL forward in IPL 2026.