“England is the place to start in the summer,” said former India captain Sourav Ganguly, backing Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi for the national team after his five-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Friday.
Nabi returned figures of 5/54 in 23 overs as J&K bowled out Karnataka for 293 to secure a 291-run first innings lead in the summit clash. He now leads the wicket charts this season with 60 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 12.56, including seven five-wicket hauls.
In a post on The series will be part of the preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
“J&K has shown the world what effort and intention can do… They have made that region so proud of them. A tough environment makes people tough. Aqib nabi on his way to national colours. England is the place to start in the summer,” Ganguly wrote.
With just a few sessions left in the final, a draw seems likely, which would give Jammu and Kashmir its first Ranji Trophy title on the basis of first-innings lead.
Earlier, former India goalkeeper Dinesh Karthik also praised Nabi’s season and noted that he participated in all the matches and performed in all conditions.
“Watching this Ranji Trophy campaign and following it closely, one thing I can say for sure – all the young boys and girls who are into this sport and wish to represent the country, let them do it the AAQIB NABI way. I can’t think of any pacer/player in a long time doing what he has done,” he wrote in X.
“Dominating from start to finish and winning the national tournament almost single-handedly is the most important thing to get into the national team,” he wrote.
“Fitness throughout the campaign, bowling for those long periods and in different soils and weather conditions and whether there has been any help for a pacer or not, he has been there for his team with the belief that every time he has had the ball, he WILL do it for his team.
“Hats off to you AAQIB, you are an absolute champion and I hope you find a lot of success and can be the lesson in how it is done to break down doors through sheer force of will, skill and endurance,” he added.