Auqib Nabi rips through Karnataka’s top order in Ranji final
Left-arm seamer Auqib Nabi produced a spell to remember in the Ranji Trophy final, blowing apart Karnataka’s top order. In a fiery burst he removed KL Rahul, Karun Nair and S. Ravichandran with three absolute jaffas that swung the momentum firmly in his team’s favour.
A spell full of sting
Nabi’s bowling combined late movement, sharp pace and immaculate control. Each delivery that hit the mark looked like it had been highlighted in the nets all week — unplayable, seaming late and finding the smallest of gaps between bat and pad. Batsmen who normally bat with comfort at the top of the order were left searching for answers.
The three jaffas
- KL Rahul — One of the country’s most assured openers, Rahul was undone by a delivery that left him beaten. The wicket set the tone for Nabi’s spell and jolted Karnataka early on.
- Karun Nair — Nair, steady at No. 3, fell to another pristine delivery. It was the sort of ball that makes both the crowd and the dressing room take notice.
- S. Ravichandran — Ravichandran’s wicket completed the top-order collapse. Nabi’s rhythm and accuracy paid off again, producing a moment that will be replayed many times.
Turning the final
Removing three frontline batters in quick succession does more than change a scorecard — it shifts momentum. Karnataka were suddenly confronting a fragile middle order under real pressure, while Nabi’s side gained confidence and belief. In a final, such bursts can decide the outcome.
What fans will remember
Cricket fans love moments of individual brilliance, and Nabi’s trio of jaffas is exactly that: concise, dramatic and match-defining. Whether you follow seam bowling or simply enjoy a good contest, those deliveries showed how one bowler can change the course of a big game.
Looking ahead
As the final continues, Karnataka will need composure from the middle order to rebuild and restore parity. For Auqib Nabi, the spell cements a place among the headlines and gives his team a clear springboard. There are still hours of play left, but for now the spotlight rightly belongs to those three unplayable balls.