Auqib Nabi made his County Championship debut for Surrey on Wednesday as the Indian seamer began a three-match stint aimed at strengthening the club’s bowling attack during a difficult run-in.
The 29-year-old has been named in Surrey’s playing XI for its Division One clash against Yorkshire at The Oval and is also available for the subsequent matches against Sussex at Hove and Glamorgan at home.
Nabi joins Surrey after a breakthrough domestic season in which he was named player of the tournament in the Ranji Trophy. Representing Jammu and Kashmir, he took 60 wickets at an average of 12.56 as J&K won its maiden Ranji Trophy title, including a five-wicket haul in the final.
His performances earned him a maiden India call-up for the Test series against Sri Lanka after he had represented India A earlier in the summer. Although he did not make his international debut, the call-up marked another step in his rapid rise in red-ball cricket.
Nabi’s arrival comes at a crucial point in Surrey’s season. The three-time defending champion won the County Championship from 2022 to 2024 and finished runner-up last year, but has managed just one victory from 10 matches this season. It currently sits eighth in Division One, only three points above the relegation places.
With Surrey facing a demanding schedule, Nabi has been brought in to provide an additional seam option. Director of men’s cricket Alec Stewart said the club needed to strengthen its bowling resources with six matches coming in six weeks and limited recovery time between games.
Nabi’s stint also gives him an opportunity to gain further experience of English conditions ahead of India’s Test tour of New Zealand in November.
Published on Sep 02, 2026
