Auqib Nabi shares advice from Rohit, Kohli and Gill ahead of New Zealand ODIs

India pacer Auqib Nabi says Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill advised him to rely on seam movement rather than swing in New Zealand. He also discusses domestic cricket, discipline, his international debut and the ambitions of aspiring cricketers

Mount Maunganui: India pacer Auqib Nabi said the advice he received from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill was to rely on seam movement rather than swing while bowling with the white ball in New Zealand. He said their reasoning was that batters at the highest level are good enough to handle a moving ball.

Nabi, 30, has taken two wickets in his four ODIs so far, both coming in India’s rain-affected victory over New Zealand in Wellington. Before that, he warmed up for the series with figures of 3-69 and 3-28 for India A against New Zealand A in Lincoln.

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“Actually, this is my first time bowling in New Zealand. So it’s a little different here. You have to depend more on seam movement because top-level batsmen can play swing. So that was their feedback. If you bowl a scrambled-seam delivery or hit the deck, there is a chance of taking more wickets here,” Nabi said at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the fourth ODI, with India 2-0 up after the third match was abandoned due to rain in Hamilton.

In September, Nabi fulfilled a dream by making his debut for India in the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati. However, on a flat pitch, he conceded 84 runs without taking a wicket. In New Zealand, where the pitches have been familiar, Nabi said the conditions were not very different from those he was used to back home in Jammu and Kashmir.

“I think it’s similar in terms of weather because we have similar weather there as well. It’s just that the opposition is a little different. This is the international level, while that is the domestic level. For the rest, you get similar kinds of wickets.”

Nabi said the high standard of domestic cricket had helped him make the step up to the international level.

“Yes, there was a lot of benefit because our domestic level is very high. So, if you do well there, you will usually do well here as well. So, there was a lot of benefit from it.”

Not having express pace, Nabi said, would not make him doubt his strengths.

“Obviously, if you have pace, then it’s very good. But I back my skills. I have done well there. Here, I have come on the strength of my skills. Obviously, if there is pace, then it is a plus factor. But I back my skills. What I have done well domestically will be useful here as well.”

He said discipline was essential, irrespective of the nature of the pitch.

“Pressure, as in, whatever the wicket, you have to bowl a good ball, whether it’s a helpful surface or a flat wicket. Your motive is to bowl the ball in good areas. Hopefully, when there is an advantage from the wicket, you have to pay a lot of attention to that as well because you can get hit for runs on that too if you are not disciplined.”

He added that the pacers regularly shared notes, especially on how to bowl on the drop-in pitches used in New Zealand.

“Yes, we bowlers talk to each other about how to bowl on different wickets. Because there are a lot of drop-in wickets here, we talk to each other about which deliveries can be bowled on these pitches, whether it’s Arshdeep, Anshul or any senior bowler. So, we talk to each other.”

Nabi admitted that his white-ball call-up had caught him by surprise.

“My record is good. I have played white-ball cricket for J&K as well. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a call-up in white-ball cricket. I was expecting a call-up in red-ball cricket (which came via the series against Sri Lanka in August). Nonetheless, it’s a good opportunity for me to show my skills.”

Nabi called playing for India the realisation of a dream and said the ongoing series was a platform for newcomers to present their case for spots in the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup squad.

“Yes, of course, I am very happy to represent my country. It has always been my dream. So, yes, it’s a good opportunity for all the newcomers to show their talent and make their case for the World Cup.”

He also had a message for young cricketers from regions with limited infrastructure who aspire to play for India.

“Of course, it’s a big thing to play for India. Anyone who starts playing cricket in any region has the same motive and goal — to play for their country. It was the same for me.

“Anyone who tells me that they don’t have facilities, I tell them that no matter how limited their facilities are, they have to work hard. The only thing a player has to do is work hard. Everything else falls into place. I tell them to work hard, no matter what.”

Nabi will remain with the squad for the two-match Test series, which starts on November 19, and said the experience would be valuable.

“It’s good for all of us. We will get more experience in playing red-ball cricket. It’s a good experience to stay with the team. We will learn a lot.”