"Absolute champion": Dinesh Karthik hails Auqib Nabi after stellar Ranji Trophy campaign

New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has showered praise on Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi for his outstanding performance in the ongoing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, calling his campaign one of the most dominant displays by a fast bowler in recent domestic history.
Taking to X, Karthik urged young aspiring cricketers to draw inspiration from Aquib Nabi's journey, describing his effort as a blueprint for breaking into the national side.
"Watching this Ranji Trophy campaign and following it closely, one thing I can say for certain, for all the young boys and girls out there playing this sport and wanting to represent the country -- do it the AQUIB NABI way," Karthik wrote.
The cricketer-turned-commentator Karthik added that he could not recall a pacer in recent times who had "dominated from start to end" in the manner Jammu and Kashmir speedster Nabi has this Ranji Trophy season.
"Can't think of any pacer/player in a long time doing what he's done. Domination from start to end and almost single-handedly winning the domestic tournament that matters the most to get into the national side," Karthik wrote.
Karthik was particularly impressed with Nabi's fitness and consistency across varied conditions throughout the Indian domestic tournament.
"Fitness across the whole campaign, bowling those long spells and across different soils, weather conditions, and whether there's been any help for a pacer or not, he's been there for his team with the belief every time he's had the ball to STRIKE for his team," Karthik posted.
The former Indian cricketer lauded Nabi's resilience and mental strength, terming him an "absolute champion" and expressing hope that greater success awaits the young pacer.
"Hats off to you AQUIB, you're an absolute champion and hope you get a lot of success that comes your way, and may you be the lesson on. How it's done to break the doors through sheer will power, skill, and resilience," Karthik said.
Nabi has been instrumental in Jammu and Kashmir's impressive run this Ranji Trophy season, delivering impactful spells regardless of pitch conditions -- whether seam-friendly surfaces or flat batting tracks.
The Jammu and Kashmir speedster Nabi is the second-highest wicket-taker in the ongoing Ranji Trophy tournament. In 10 matches and 17 innings, Nabi has struck 58 wickets at an average of 12.62. He has two four-fers and six five-wicket hauls in the ongoing tournament.
Meanwhile, first-time finalists Jammu and Kashmir are in a commanding position against eight-time champions Karnataka at stumps on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Thursday.
In the first innings, Jammu and Kashmir amassed 584 in 173.1 overs. The innings was headlined by Shubham Pundir, who played a fantastic knock of 121 off 247 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes.
For Karnataka, speedster Prasidh Krishna scalped a five-wicket haul. He registered the figures of 5/98 in 34.1 overs. Apart from him, Vidyadhar Patil (1/116), Vijaykumar Vyshak (1/75), Shreyas Gopal (1/139), and Shikhar Shetty (1/125) scalped one wicket apiece.
In response, Mayank Agarwal's unbeaten 130 off 207 balls, with 17 fours, has taken Karnataka to 220/5 in 69 overs at stumps on Day 3. KL Rahul (13 off 39 balls, with two fours), captain Devdutt Padikkal (11 off 10 balls, with two fours), Karun Nair (0), Smaran Ravichandran (0), Shreyas Gopal (27 off 83 balls, with one four) couldn't convert their start.
Earlier in the match, Jammu and Kashmir posted 284/2 on Day 1, with Shubham Pundir scoring a century and Yawer Hassan making 88 runs. On Day 2, the Jammu and Kashmir batters continued their dominance as they took their side's total to 527/6, before the umpires called stumps due to bad light. (ANI)