Hubballi: Auqib Nabi – a name that has struck a chord in the Indian domestic circuit over the past few seasons – is one of the standout players. Karnataka The camp would like to be forgotten in a hurry. The 29-year-old Simer from Baramulla on Thursday broke through Karnataka’s strong batting line-up to push Jammu and Kashmir to the brink of history-making ranji trophy title. However, Nabi downplayed his heroics, insisting his approach was based on keeping things simple, even if his bowling proved otherwise. Nabi’s pronounced swing, late movement and ability to consistently hit the seam with a strong wrist position kept Karnataka’s leading runner under relentless pressure on the third day of the final. Nabi, who entered the title race with 55 wickets this season, including 21 wickets in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, overtook Uttarakhand spinner Mayank Mishra (59 wickets) to become the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. In outlining his approach, Nabi said the Johnson & Johnson attack followed a collective plan. “In our team, we all follow the same plan, stick to specific lines and lengths. Even if the batsmen try to chase us, we keep bowling in the same channel,” he explained. Much of the preparation for the final has focused on the anticipated matchup between Naby and Naby Kuala Lumpur RahulTailor acknowledged concerns about dueling. “I was confident because I had been taking wickets. I went in with a positive mindset and just wanted to keep it simple. Before the game, I got a lot of messages about getting Rahul out, but I just wanted to bowl in a good channel and not focus on the batsmen,” he said. Naby emphasized the importance of wrist position in generating movement, an aspect of technique that has become central to his success. “Wrist position is very important. If your wrist is straight, everything else becomes easier. The ball moves with the wrist, so wrist straightness is very important for fast bowlers,” he said. Now that the visitors are within striking distance of their maiden Ranji Trophy victory, the anticipation is building. Big names from Johnson & Johnson are expected to arrive in Hubballi on Friday, on the eve of what could be a historic moment. For Naby, the possibility of lifting the trophy represents the realization of a long-held ambition. “When I first played for J&K, it was my dream to win trophies, especially in red-ball cricket. Growing up, I always knew we didn’t win trophies, so this means a lot,” he said.
