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Irfan Pathan Hails J&K's "Diesel Engine" Aquib Nabi After Ranji Final Feat

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has lavished praise on Jammu & Kashmir pace sensation Aquib Nabi for his match-winning performance in the Ranji Trophy semifinal. Pathan described Nabi as a "diesel engine" who starts slow but bowls relentless, tireless spells once he gets going. Nabi's nine-wicket haul, including a five-for, powered J&K to a historic first-ever Ranji Trophy final. The pacer is the season's second-highest wicket-taker with 55 scalps and has also contributed valuable runs with the bat.

Key Points: Irfan Pathan Praises J&K Pacer Aquib Nabi's Ranji Trophy Heroics

  • Nabi's 9-wicket haul vs Bengal
  • Pathan's "diesel engine" praise
  • J&K's first Ranji final
  • 55 wickets this season
  • All-round performance with bat
2 min read

Pathan hails "diesel engine" J&K pace sensation Aquib Nabi following team's landmark Ranji final qualification

Irfan Pathan hails Jammu & Kashmir pacer Aquib Nabi as a "diesel engine" after his 9-wicket semifinal haul secures historic Ranji Trophy final berth.

"Aquib Nabi was called a diesel engine... once he started, he would not look back. - Irfan Pathan"

New Delhi, February 19

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan hailed Jammu and Kashmir pacer Aquib Nabi for his breathtaking performances in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, including his nine-wicket haul in the semifinal clash against Bengal, which took them to their first-ever Ranji final.

Aquib delivered a fine all-round performance, scoring 42 runs in his side's first innings and taking a total of nine wickets, including a first innings five-wicket haul, completely outshining the figures of 8/90 by senior Indian pacer Mohammed Shami to take his side to their first-ever Ranji Trophy final.

Speaking on his Youtube channel, Pathan described Nabi as someone who was called a "diesel engine" which would start slow but "would not look back" once he started.

"Aquib Nabi was called a diesel engine. Diesel engine because it used to take a little time to start. But once he started, he would not look back. 8-hour spell, 10-hour spell, he used to bowl long spells, and then he would not stop. He would not get tired. This is his ability. He has a straight seam. And because of this, you get to see a lot of late movement. He is defending and outing the batsmen," Pathan said.

The pacer said that the bowler is "absolutely special" and his 55 wickets this season, both with new and old ball and 243 runs with the bat

"Nabi is absolutely special. This 12-ball player, looking at his growth, looks very good. First of all, He has taken 55 wickets this season. 55 wickets are amazing. This is wonderful. He is putting in a long spell. He is taking wickets from the new ball. He is taking wickets from the old ball. And he scored 243 runs in batting. It is not that he cannot bat. I believe he is one of those fast bowlers. And he is ready (for Tests). The way I see him bowling, I followed him in the semi-finals. He is doing outstanding bowling. And he is bowling regular wickets. I remember when I saw him for the first time in 2018-19, what I used to do, when I used to select the boys in J&K, I used to talk to the local coaches about those boys," he added.

Nabi is the second-highest wicket-taker this season with 55 scalps in nine matches at an average of 12.72 and an economy rate of 2.67, with two four-fers and six five-wicket hauls and best figures of 7/24.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan living in Delhi, it's thrilling to see new talent emerge from regions like Jammu & Kashmir. 55 wickets at that average is phenomenal. Hope the selectors are paying attention. He seems ready for the next level.
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Vikram M
Irfan Pathan knows a thing or two about pace bowling, so his praise means a lot. Nabi's ability to bowl long spells is a dying art in this T20 era. Hope he gets a proper run and isn't just a one-season wonder. The real test will be consistency.
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Priya S
This makes me so proud! J&K cricket has come a long way. Nabi's performance outshining even Shami's figures says a lot. Wishing the entire team all the best for the final. Bring the trophy home! 🇮🇳
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Rohit P
While the excitement is understandable, let's not put too much pressure on the young man. The jump from Ranji to international cricket is huge. Let him enjoy this final and develop at his own pace. The "ready for Tests" tag from Pathan might be premature.
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Karthik V
Straight seam, late movement, and can bat a bit? Reminds me of a young Irfan Pathan himself! The Ranji Trophy remains the true backbone of Indian cricket. Stories like this are why we follow domestic cricket. More power to Aquib Nabi!

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