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Delhi Capitals secured Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar for a staggering ₹8.40 crore in the IPL auction, a massive 28-fold increase over his base price of ₹30 lakh.
In a thrilling moment at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi, uncapped Jammu & Kashmir bowling all-rounder Auqib Nabi Dar was snapped up by Delhi Capitals for a whopping ₹8.40 crore. This massive deal, 28 times his base price of ₹30 lakh, marked his debut in the Indian Premier League and highlighted his rising stardom in domestic cricket.
Details about the intense bidding war
The bidding kicked off with the Delhi Capitals opening at Auqib Nabi Dar's base price. Rajasthan Royals jumped in early, pushing the amount past ₹1 crore before backing out. Royal Challengers Bengaluru then entered, trading bids with DC until the price crossed ₹2 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad made a late push at ₹2.2 crore, but Delhi held strong, eventually securing the 29-year-old for ₹8.40 crore after outlasting all rivals.
This makes Nabi one of the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history, rewarding his consistent performances across formats.
Who is Auqib Nabi? A rising star from Baramulla
Born on November 4, 1996, in Baramulla, Jammu & Kashmir, Auqib Nabi Dar grew up in a modest family where his father, an English teacher, hoped he would become a doctor. Instead, Nabi pursued cricket on local dusty grounds with limited facilities, modeling his action after South African legend Dale Steyn.
The right-arm medium pacer is known for swinging the ball both ways, delivering lethal yorkers, and handling the old ball effectively. His long levers also make him a handy lower-order batsman capable of clearing boundaries.
Nabi debuted in first-class cricket in 2020 and has played 36 matches, taking over 125 wickets while scoring around 870 runs.
Dominant domestic performances
Auqib Nabi Dar's breakthrough came in recent seasons. In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, he took 44 wickets at an average of 13.93, the most by any pacer. He continued the form into 2025-26, claiming 29 wickets in the early rounds, including three five-wicket hauls and a best of 7/24 against Rajasthan.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he picked up 15 wickets in seven matches with an economy under 8, proving his white-ball skills. He even shone in the Duleep Trophy, taking four wickets in four balls.
As Nabi prepares for his maiden IPL stint, DC fans will be excited to see this swing king shine on the big stage. His journey from Kashmir's challenging fields to a multi-crore deal will inspire many young cricketers.
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