India pacer Auqib Nabi has revealed that senior teammates Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill advised him to prioritise seam movement over swing while bowling with the white ball in New Zealand, reasoning that top-order batters at the highest level are equipped to handle conventional swing. Nabi shared these insights at the pre-match press conference in Mount Maunganui on the eve of the fourth ODI, with India leading the series 2-0 after the third match in Hamilton was washed out.

The Senior Players' Tactical Guidance

'Actually, this is my first time bowling in New Zealand. So it's a little different here. You have to depend more on the seam movement because the top level batsmen can play the swing. So that was their feedback. If you do a scrambled seam ball or hit the deck, there is a chance to get more wickets here,' Nabi said.

The 30-year-old pacer has claimed two wickets in his four ODIs to date — both during India's rain-affected victory over New Zealand in Wellington. He had warmed up impressively for the series with figures of 3 for 69 and 3 for 28 for India A against New Zealand A in Lincoln.

Familiar Conditions and Domestic Cricket's Role

Nabi, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, noted that New Zealand's conditions are not drastically different from what he has grown up bowling in. '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 an international level, that is a domestic level. For the rest, you get similar kinds of wickets,' he said.

The pacer credited the demanding standard of Indian domestic cricket for easing his transition to international cricket. '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,' he added. He also noted that the bowling unit regularly exchanges notes on how to operate on the drop-in pitches used at New Zealand venues, with teammates Arshdeep Singh and Anshul Ambhoj among those in the conversation.

Backing Skill Over Pace

Nabi acknowledged that he does not possess express pace but was clear that this would not undermine his confidence. 'Obviously, if you have pace, then it's very good. But my skill, I back it. I have done well there. Here, I have come on skill. Obviously, if there is pace, then it is a plus factor. But I back my skill,' he said.

He emphasised that discipline remains non-negotiable regardless of pitch conditions. 'Whatever wicket you are on, 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,' he said, cautioning that even a helpful surface could yield runs if a bowler loses focus.

A Dream Debut and the Road to 2027

Nabi made his India debut in September in the second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati, but on a flat pitch he conceded 84 runs without a wicket. He admitted he had not anticipated a white-ball call-up. 'I wasn't expecting a call in white-ball. I was expecting a call in red-ball, which came via the series against Sri Lanka in August. Nonetheless, it's a good opportunity for me to show my skills,' he said.

Nabi sees the New Zealand series as a platform for India's emerging players to stake their claim for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup, and had an encouraging message for aspiring cricketers from infrastructure-challenged regions: 'No matter how limited your facilities are, you have to work hard for it. The only thing a player has to do is work hard. Everything else falls into place.'

Nabi will remain with the squad for the two-match Test series beginning 19 November, calling the experience a valuable learning opportunity as he continues to build his international case.