'That is what they told me' – Auqib Nabi reveals advice from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on bowling in New Zealand

Auqib Nabi stepped into international cricket on September 30, 2026, making his ODI debut against West Indies. The 29-year-old pacer, who operates at around 130 kilometres per hour, was drafted into India's squad after Prasidh Krishna suffered a hamstring injury. Across three ODI appearances, Nabi has claimed two wickets, including his maiden international scalp in the second match against New Zealand, where he dismissed Tim Seifert for a duck and Will Young for 6.

India hold a 2-0 lead in the five-match ODI series against the Black Caps following a washout in the third encounter. With the two-Test series set to commence on November 19, Nabi participated in a nets session on November 11 where he bowled to Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The senior batters offered the young pacer specific guidance on adapting his bowling approach to New Zealand's unique conditions.

What guidance did Kohli and Sharma offer on seam movement?

Nabi explained that the feedback centred on the importance of seam movement rather than pace alone in New Zealand conditions. He acknowledged that top-level batsmen are skilled at playing swing bowling, making technical precision essential for success on foreign soil.

"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)," Nabi said.

How does Nabi approach bowling without relying solely on pace?

The young pacer emphasised that while pace is a valuable asset, his primary strength lies in the technical skills he has developed through domestic cricket. Nabi stressed that his approach to bowling in New Zealand would rely on the fundamentals that have served him well at the domestic level rather than speed alone.

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"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," he added.