Rejected by 5 IPL teams, no spikes to play, Kashmir's Dale Steyn now Mitchell Starc's partner with INR 8.4 crore deal

Nabi, a fast bowler from Kashmir once dubbed the region's Dale Steyn, is set to join Mitchell Starc after being acquired for INR 8.4 crore. This achievement comes after years of setbacks and repeated rejections.

For years, Nabi faced numerous trials with various IPL teams, including Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he was never signed. Delhi Capitals expressed interest the previous year and invited him for trials, but a state camp prevented his participation. Finally, at this year's auction, Delhi Capitals engaged in a four-way bidding war to secure him.

Nabi's aspirations are deeply tied to his upbringing in Baramulla. Growing up, academics were a priority in his household. His father, Gulam Nabi Dar, an English teacher, had envisioned a different path for his son.

"I was good in studies, and my father’s dream was that I would become a doctor,” Nabi stated. His father initially disapproved of his cricket pursuits, but after Nabi's selection for the U-19 team, he became a staunch supporter.

Nabi's cricket journey began informally with tennis ball matches in the streets, lacking proper grounds or knowledge of professional fast bowling requirements. "For me, it all started with gully cricket. We never had any proper ground. I didn’t even know that a fast bowler needed spikes,” he recalled.

He experienced a rude awakening at his first JKCA trial in Jammu. "I was shell-shocked. I was wearing sports shoes worth ₹500,” Nabi remembered. He had to borrow spikes from a senior player but wasn't selected. For several years, he faced repeated rejection. In 2016, his last eligible year, he finally made the J&K U-19 side, but only for four-day cricket.

Consistent performances for Jammu and Kashmir fueled his ambition. Nabi made his Vijay Hazare Trophy debut in 2018, but an injury temporarily halted his progress. He debuted in the Ranji Trophy in 2020 and has since become J&K's leading fast bowler across all formats.

During the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season, Nabi took 44 wickets in eight matches, the second-highest that season. His performance was crucial to Jammu and Kashmir's quarterfinal appearance. In the 2025–26 Ranji season, he claimed 29 wickets in nine innings, including three five-wicket hauls and a 7 for 24 performance against Rajasthan.

Nabi's white-ball form has been equally impressive. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he secured 15 wickets in seven matches with an economy rate of 7.41. In a recent match against Madhya Pradesh, he scored 32 runs off 21 balls and took three wickets, securing a 13-run victory for J&K.

According to his coach, Nabi possessed a natural outswinger but lacked confidence with inswingers. The coach focused on refining his skills and wrist position, leading to significant improvements. "There were no big changes in his action. We worked on small tactical and mental aspects. When I told him something and he applied it, it worked. That builds belief.”

Nabi's confidence has grown through recognition at the highest domestic levels. During the Duleep Trophy, he took five wickets for North Zone, receiving encouragement from fellow fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. Ajay Ratra, a selector, praised Nabi after a five-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy opener against Mumbai.

As Delhi Capitals prepares to utilize his skills, Nabi arrives with a wealth of experience, resilience, and a journey that domestic cricket remembers well. He aims to fulfill his dream of starting a cricket academy in Baramulla with the earnings from his IPL contract. He is no longer the bowler who had to borrow spikes.