J&K’s Aqib Nabi (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)
Hubbali: Aqib Nabi – a name that has resonated across the Indian domestic circuit over the past two seasons – is one that the Karnataka camp will quickly want to forget.The 29-year-old seamer from Baramulla cracked the formidable Karnataka line-up on Thursday, pushing Jammu and Kashmir to the brink of a historic maiden Ranji Trophy title. However, Naby played down his heroics, insisting his approach was based on keeping things simple, even if his bowling proved anything but.
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With crisp swing, late movement and the ability to consistently hit the seam with a strong wrist position, Nabi kept Karnataka’s leading players under relentless pressure on the third day of the final.Coming into the title contest with 55 wickets this season – including 21 in the quarter-finals and semi-finals – Nabi is two wickets away from overtaking Uttarakhand’s Mayank Mishra (59 wickets) to become the leading bowler in the competition.Explaining his approach, the Prophet said that the Jammu and Kashmir attack was carried out with a collective plan.“In our team, we all follow the same plan, stick to a certain line and length. Even if the batsmen try to chase us, we continue to play in the same channel,” he explained.Much of the build-up to the final has centered on Naby’s expected contest with KL Rahul, and the seamer acknowledged the interest surrounding the duel.“I was confident because I was taking wickets. I went in with a positive mindset and just wanted to keep it simple.
“Before the match, I received a lot of messages about getting Rahul out, but I just wanted to play in a good channel and not focus on batting,” he said.Nabi stressed the importance of wrist position in generating movement, a technical aspect that became pivotal to his success.“Wrist position is very important. If you have a straight wrist, everything else becomes easier. The ball moves with the wrist, so a straight wrist is very important for a fast bowler,” he said.With the visitors now on the verge of achieving their first Ranji Trophy win, anticipation is building. Dignitaries from J&K are expected to arrive in Hubballi on Friday in what could be the eve of a historic moment.For Nabi, the possibility of lifting the trophy represents the fulfillment of a long-term ambition.“When I first represented J&K, my dream was to win a trophy, especially in red-ball cricket. Growing up, I always knew that we never won a trophy, so this means a lot,” he said.
