India‘s ongoing tour of New Zealand has provided an opportunity for several players to gain valuable international experience while preparing for challenging conditions away from home. Among them is young fast bowler Auqib Nabi, who is looking to establish himself in the Indian ODI setup through his ability to extract movement rather than relying solely on speed.
With India holding a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series, Nabi has opened up about the valuable advice he received from senior batters Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill during the tour. The right-arm pacer believes that the lessons learned through years of domestic cricket can help him adapt to New Zealand’s conditions and make an impact at the highest level.
Auqib Nabi backs his bowling skills instead of focusing on extra pace
Nabi, who generally operates in the 130 kmph range, has made it clear that increasing his bowling speed is not his primary objective. Instead, he wants to maximise his strengths by concentrating on accuracy, seam movement and the ability to trouble batters through variations in his deliveries.
Having featured in three ODIs for India, Nabi is still at an early stage of his international career. His debut against the West Indies at home did not go according to expectations, but the fast bowler is keen to use his domestic experience to improve his performances.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the fourth ODI against New Zealand, Nabi acknowledged that additional pace can be beneficial for a fast bowler. However, he remains confident in the skills that helped him earn recognition in domestic cricket.
“Obviously, if you have the pace, it’s very good. But my skill, I back that. I have done well in domestic cricket. Here, I have come on skill. If there is pace, it is a plus factor. But I back my skill. What I did well in domestic cricket will be useful here as well,” Nabi said.
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma share valuable advice with Nabi
One of the biggest learning opportunities for Nabi on the New Zealand tour has been bowling to some of India’s most experienced batters in the practice sessions. The pacer revealed that he has regularly bowled to Kohli, Rohit and Gill in the nets. He also had an extended opportunity to test himself against the trio on Thursday.
Since this is his first experience playing in New Zealand, Nabi admitted that adapting to the local conditions has been a learning process. He explained that the advice from India’s senior batters centred around making better use of seam movement and hitting the right areas rather than simply trying to generate swing.
“Actually, this is my first time putting a ball in New Zealand. So, it is a little different here. Here, you have to depend more on the seam movement. Because the top-level batsmen play swing. So, that was their feedback (the trio),” he explained.
Nabi further revealed that Kohli, Rohit and Gill encouraged him to experiment with scrambled-seam deliveries and focus on hitting the deck.
“Here, if you do scramble seam or hit the deck, there is a chance to get more wickets here. That is what they told me,” he added.
Test series in focus for Nabi
India’s ODI campaign has given Nabi an opportunity to understand the demands of bowling in New Zealand, where seam movement can play an important role. The pacer will also remain with the Indian team after the conclusion of the ODI assignment to assist with preparations for the upcoming two-Test series, which begins on November 19.
The additional time with the squad should provide him with further exposure to the conditions and an opportunity to learn from experienced players. For Nabi, the immediate challenge is to translate the advice received from India’s senior batters into his bowling while continuing to trust the skills that brought him into the national setup.
Also READ: NZ vs IND, 4th ODI: Bay Oval Pitch Report and Mount Maunganui Weather Forecast
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