A schoolteacher’s son from a small Kashmir village is now wearing the India cap. Auqib Nabi Dar’s story runs from unpaved grounds in Baramulla to a Ranji Trophy title, an ₹8.40 crore IPL contract, and an ODI debut for India against the West Indies in Guwahati, all inside a couple of years. Fans call him the “Baramulla Express,” and this piece covers his age, family, domestic and IPL record, international debut and the numbers behind his rise.
Auqib Nabi Dar: Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Auqib Nabi Dar |
| Nickname | Baramulla Express |
| Date of Birth | 4 November 1996 |
| Age (2026) | 29 Years |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) |
| Birthplace | Sheeri, Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Role | Bowling all-rounder |
| Domestic Teams | Jammu and Kashmir, North Zone |
| IPL Team | Delhi Capitals |
| IPL Price (2026 auction) | ₹8.40 crore |
| International Debut | ODI vs West Indies, 30 September 2026 |
Early Life
Auqib was born on 4 November 1996 in Sheeri, a village in Baramulla district in north Kashmir. His father, Ghulam Nabi Dar, worked as a schoolteacher and initially wanted him to focus on academics rather than cricket, at one point hoping he would prepare for a medical entrance exam instead. Kashmir’s cricketing infrastructure was thin at the time, so Auqib routinely travelled more than 50 km from Baramulla to Srinagar just to train properly.
A turning point came when he was picked for a BCCI pace-bowling camp under Glenn McGrath while still preparing for his Class 12 exams. His father was against it at first, but a family friend and Auqib’s early club captain convinced him to let his son go, and even arranged the money for a flight instead of a long train journey to Chennai. That camp is widely seen as the moment his career direction was set.
Family
| Relation | Name / Detail |
|---|---|
| Father | Ghulam Nabi Dar (schoolteacher) |
| Mother | Not publicly known |
| Siblings | Not publicly known |
| Marital Status | Single |
Auqib keeps his personal life low-profile, and beyond his father’s name and profession, there is little public detail about his family. This section will be updated if more verified information becomes available.
Domestic Career
Auqib entered senior domestic cricket around 2018, playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Jammu and Kashmir before making his Ranji Trophy debut in the 2019-20 season, where he picked up a five-wicket haul against Jharkhand in only his first outing.
His real breakout came in the 2024-25 season. He picked up 44 wickets across the season’s white-ball and red-ball cricket combined with a four-in-four-balls burst in the Duleep Trophy, and then exploded in the Ranji Trophy itself, taking 60 wickets in 10 matches to finish as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. That effort carried Jammu and Kashmir to their first-ever Ranji Trophy title after a 67-year wait, and Auqib walked away with the Player of the Series award.
IPL Career
Delhi Capitals signed Auqib Nabi Dar for ₹8.40 crore at the 2026 IPL auction, making him one of the costliest uncapped picks of that season.
| IPL Record | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches | 5 |
| Runs | 14 |
| Highest Score | 10* |
| Batting Average | 14.00 |
| Strike Rate | 350.00 |
| Wickets | 0 |
| Best Bowling | 0/17 |
His IPL bowling numbers haven’t clicked yet, but the pace and strike rate with the bat show a player who is holding his own in the format while he settles in.
Cricket Career
Auqib became the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to be named in an India Test squad, a milestone widely covered as a breakthrough for the region’s cricket. He followed it up with his ODI debut for India against the West Indies in Guwahati on 30 September 2026, becoming the first male cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to represent India at the international level in the format.
Also Read: Mukul Choudhary Story
Career Statistics
| Format | Key Numbers |
|---|---|
| First-Class | 96 wickets, best 6/53, average 22.01, 9 five-wicket hauls, 2 ten-wicket match hauls |
| List A | 29 matches, 351 runs, best score 45*, batting average 20.64 |
| Ranji Trophy 2024-25 | 60 wickets in 10 matches — leading wicket-taker, Player of the Series |
| IPL | 5 matches, 14 runs, 0 wickets |
Playing Style
Auqib is a fast-medium bowler who leans on swing and control rather than raw speed, which is part of why he has been so consistent in first-class cricket. With the bat, he plays right-handed lower down the order and is seen as a useful tail-end contributor rather than a specialist batter.
Key Achievements
- Took 60 wickets in 10 matches in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, the tournament’s highest tally that season
- Led Jammu and Kashmir to their maiden Ranji Trophy title after 67 years
- Won the Ranji Trophy Player of the Series award
- First cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to get an India Test squad call-up
- Made his India ODI debut on 30 September 2026
- Bought by Delhi Capitals for ₹8.40 crore at the IPL 2026 auction
Auqib Nabi Dar FAQs
How old is Auqib Nabi Dar?
He is 29 years old, born on 4 November 1996.
Where is Auqib Nabi Dar from?
He is from Sheeri village in Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir.
Which IPL team does Auqib Nabi Dar play for?
Delhi Capitals, who signed him for ₹8.40 crore in the 2026 auction.
When did Auqib Nabi Dar make his India debut?
He debuted in ODIs against the West Indies on 30 September 2026.
Why is Auqib Nabi Dar called the Baramulla Express?
The nickname comes from his hometown, Baramulla, and his identity as a fast bowler.
What is Auqib Nabi Dar’s religion?
He follows Islam.
Also Read: Shahneel Gill Biography
Conclusion
Auqib Nabi Dar’s path from a village in north Kashmir to India’s ODI side is built on a Ranji Trophy campaign that changed his state’s cricket history and a father who backed him even after doubting the decision. The IPL numbers are still catching up to the domestic ones, but with a maiden India cap now in hand, the Baramulla Express is only getting started.