New Delhi: As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for its maiden Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka in Hubballi, fast bowling spearhead Oqib Nabi remains the calmest presence in a dressing room that is rife with tension. The pacer from Sheeri village in Baramulla has been the driving force behind J&K’s dream run this season.When J&K take to the field on Tuesday, expectations will once again rest on Nabi’s shoulders. He has taken 55 wickets in 9 games this season, which is his second highest record, at an impressive average of 12.72. Bowling coach P. Krishnakumar recalls how the shy pacer emerged as a dominant force.

“If you look at his record, he took 199 wickets in 40 games. I’ve been with him for the last three years and he took 99 wickets in the last two seasons. In this season, he has taken over 50 wickets so far, which shows that his skill level has now reached a different level as he knows how to move the ball, bowl the ball on different pitches and against different batsmen. So, it was not a one-day process – developing it took almost a year and started in my first year joining the Jammu and Kashmir team,” Krishnakumar told IANS.A fan of Dale Steyn, Nabi made his Ranji debut in 2020 but has excelled over the past two seasons. Krishnakumar believes that his bowling action is the basis of his success.“Look, his action is very, very good… If you compare and look at it from a biomechanical point of view, his action is perfect… With his swing and seam, it’s very difficult for batsmen to get runs against Ochib.”This transformation requires sustained effort.“My first year with him, it was all about process… He hit a thousand balls in his first year to develop his skills, master his wrist position and his backspin… it almost took a year to transform him,” he said.Nabi highlighted his all-round impact by taking nine wickets and scoring a crucial 42 runs with the bat in the semi-final against Bangladesh. He also posted career-best figures of 7-24 against Rajasthan and played a key role against Delhi.“Auqib is fantastic because to take 99 wickets in the last two seasons is unbelievable… I am sure he will definitely get the nod in some of the upcoming Test series,” Krishnakumar said.He called for national recognition, adding, “As a coach, I feel he should be given a chance when he performs… To take almost 100 wickets in two years – what do you want as a player?… If someone is out there performing, I think they should definitely be in the team.”Karnataka’s star-studded batting line-up awaits the final and Krishnakumar is confident that this moment will not change Nabi.“The best part about Nabi is that he is very level-headed… If he takes six wickets, he is still the same and that is very important,” he said.For Nabi, who once trained without proper facilities, this final is another step in a remarkable journey but his focus remains firm on bringing glory to Jammu and Kashmir.