Auqib Nabi picked 2/31 in the second ODI between New Zealand and India.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra has highlighted how Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi becomes non-threatening due to a lack of pace. Chopra’s words came after Auqib Nabi looked lethal in helpful conditions in the second ODI between India and New Zealand in Wellington but lost his fangs once Daryl Mitchell started counterattacking him.
Nabi picked 2/31 in his 7 overs, as New Zealand made 134 runs in 41 overs as Daryl Mitchell made 55 runs and Mitchell Santner made 31 runs. Gurnoor Brar also starred with 4/30. In response, India had reached 113/7 in 26 overs when rain caused the match to be called off. India won the game by 4 runs via the DLS method to go 2-0 up in the five-ODI series.
Aakash Chopra highlighted that Auqib Nabi looks lethal when conditions help him in swinging and seaming the ball but becomes toothless once the batters start counterattacking him due to lack of pace.
“Well, if there is help on the surface, Auqib Nabi is best suited to extract something out of it. He’s a seam bowler and a swing bowler. He’s a hit-the-deck hard bowler. There was enough help on the surface after the game was delayed because of rain. The pitch was also under the covers for a fairly long period of time. So, surface moisture was still existing. And he was just putting the ball in the right area,” Chopra said on Cricinfo.
Chopra highlighted how Daryl Mitchell began walking down the pitch to nullify Nabi’s swing and counter-attacked the J&K pacer, leading to Indian keeper KL Rahul coming up to the stumps.
“The only issue arises a little later when Daryl Mitchell starts walking down the pitch, and the keeper has to be brought up. Mitchell starts smashing him down on the ground. It has happened on two or three occasions. The lack of pace is something that will have to be worked on, and he should have a plan when batters start charging down. The moment the keeper is standing up, Nabi looks half the bowler,” Chopra added.
Aakash Chopra also talked about Arshdeep Singh, noting that he conceded only 16 runs in his 7 overs but had gone for 70 runs in the first ODI.
“Yeah, sometimes it happens. Last game, he conceded 70 but had four wickets to show for his efforts. On Saturday, he bowled a lot better than what he did at Auckland. But then had no wickets to show for it in the opening burst. If you give him the conditions, he is one of the ideal new ball bowlers who has mastered his skills in the shortest format where batters tend to go after you,” Chopra concluded.
New Zealand and India will clash in the third ODI in Hamilton on November 10.