In a moment that epitomizes Jammu and Kashmir’s fabled Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign, the fast bowler Augib Nabi The star produced a stunning delivery to eliminate the tendency KL Rahul During lunch on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka at the KSCA Stadium on Thursday. The award-winning wicketkeeper left the eight-time champions at 35/1, still 549 runs short of J&K’s first innings total of 584.
Auqib Nabi stunned KL Rahul with her absolute beauty
After J&K posted a mammoth 584 in their first innings, courtesy Shubham Pundir’s 121 and another five half-centuries, Nabi turned his attention to dismantling Karnataka’s star-studded batting line-up. lunch break.
Back-swinging with a bounce that straightened after the toss, Nabi took a weak edge off Rahul’s bat and it was safely picked up by keeper Kanhaiya Wadhavan. Although the field umpire initially dismissed the appeal loudly, J&K captain Paras Dogra immediately reviewed the decision. The UltraEdge confirmed a clear breakthrough, followed by complete jubilation in the J&K camp as the big screen “came out”.
Rahul, who looked very restless till then, scored 13 runs off 39 balls with two boundaries. The dismissal left Karnataka at 27/1 at 11.2 and they still faced a monumental deficit, crawling to 35/1 by lunch.
The goal was no accident, but the culmination of Nabi’s sustained pressure. Right after the first over, the pacer struck a quick streak that troubled Rahul repeatedly and knocked his bat several times.
In his second out, Nabi delivered what commentators described as a ‘peach’ – swinging sharply, completely opening up Rahul as his right leg dislodged. A live blog from India Today captured the moment: “Peach! A touch fuller, outside off, takes the shade off. KL Rahul looks to spin it but is beaten. What a delivery from Auqib Nabi.”
We present the video:
Big wicket by KL Rahul 🔥
🎥 Watch Auqib Nabi’s introduction to J&K as a major breakthrough and an important first step #RanjiTrophy Final!
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— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 26, 2026
Nabi’s figures of 3-2-3-0 in his opening spell mirrored the suffocating condition he maintained in the Karnataka openers. Mayank Agarwal and Rahul forced a careful approach to disciplined lines and movements.
IPL connection: Future teammates become enemies
Adding an interesting twist to the contest is the fact that both Nabi and Rahul will share the dressing room. Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 starts on March 26. Delhi Capitals (DC) The auction fetched INR 8.40 crore for Nabi, making him the most expensive Kashmiri player in IPL history.
The irony of the firing of a future teammate did not go unnoticed by observers. Nabi’s ability to trouble Rahul with the new ball demonstrated exactly why the Capitals invested heavily in the pacer, who has now taken his season tally to an extraordinary 56 wickets at an average of 13 below.
Nabi’s great performance with the ball
This performance is just the latest chapter in a historic season for Nabi. The 29-year-old started his domestic campaign with a bang, taking a double hat-trick on his Duleep Trophy debut.
This was followed by a nine-wicket haul in the semi-final against Bengal, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, earning him the Man of the Match award.
Also READ: Meet Auqib Nabi – the Jammu and Kashmir paceman who led his team to a historic Ranji Trophy final
