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Pathan's Mentorship Fuels Nabi's Rise to IPL Stardom
4 Apr
Summary
- Irfan Pathan's mentorship was crucial for Auqib Nabi's senior debut.
- Nabi was inspired by Dale Steyn to become a fast bowler.
- Delhi Capitals bought Nabi for Rs 8.40 crore in the IPL auction.
Delhi Capitals' promising fast bowler Auqib Nabi has attributed his cricketing success to the invaluable mentorship of former India pacer Irfan Pathan. Pathan, serving as the mentor for Jammu and Kashmir's cricket team in 2018, played an instrumental role in facilitating Nabi's transition to the senior team, which marked a significant turning point in his career.
Nabi, who was initially encouraged by his father to pursue a career in medicine, found his inspiration in watching Dale Steyn's aggressive fast bowling. This passion led him to aspire to represent India. Pathan recognized Nabi's potential, noting his ability to bowl long spells and extract late movement off the seam and swing the ball effectively.
The 29-year-old seamer's impressive performances, particularly during the last Ranji Trophy season where he was a standout bowler and contributed significantly in the final, led to his acquisition by Delhi Capitals for a substantial sum of Rs 8.40 crore in the recent IPL auction. Nabi is currently in contention for an India debut and is anticipated to make his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming matches.
