Duleep Trophy
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 29: Jammu & Kashmir’s talented all-rounder Auqib Nabi scripted cricketing history today by taking a rare double hat-trick during the Duleep Trophy match between North Zone and East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. Nabi’s extraordinary feat – four wickets in four consecutive balls – is the first-ever in the 64-year history of the tournament and places him among an elite group of Indian cricketers to achieve such a milestone.
Resuming at 308 for 7, North Zone posted a strong total of 405 runs, propelled by Kanhaiya Wadhawan’s resilient 76 and a quickfire 44 from Nabi. The duo forged a crucial ninth-wicket partnership of 66 runs, setting a solid foundation for their team.
In response, East Zone struggled against Nabi’s relentless bowling. He dismantled their lineup by taking five key wickets for just 28 runs in 10.1 overs, including dismissing dangerous batsmen Virat Singh, Manishi, Mukhtar Hussain and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal in four consecutive deliveries. East Zone was eventually bowled out for 230, giving North Zone a commanding first-innings lead of 175 runs.
Other notable contributors for North Zone included Ayush Badoni (63), Yash Dhull (39), Nishant Sindhu (47), Shubham Khajuria (26), skipper Ankit Kumar (30) and Mayank Daggar (28). For East Zone, Riyan Parag and Utkarsh Singh scored 39 and 38 runs respectively.
Brigadier Anil Gupta, Member Administration of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), praised Nabi as a “champion bowler who had been overlooked for too long.” Mithun Manhas, Member Cricket Operations and Development and Convener of the North Zone Selection Committee, credited the players’ success to their hard work, perseverance and the support system around them.
Nabi’s historic performance not only propelled North Zone into a strong position but also showcased the emerging cricketing talent from Jammu and Kashmir, inspiring many aspiring players in the region.
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