Before the fourth match of their ODI series against New Zealand, Indian fast bowler Auqib Nabi spoke about the tips that he had received from batsmen batting in the top order in the nets, who usually tell him to use his scrambled seam or to bowl a good deck.

Currently, India is leading the five-match series by 2-0 after the third ODI at Seddon Park in Hamilton was rained out. The last two ODIs of the series will take place at Mount Maunganui on 13th and 15th November.

Auqib Nabi was unfortunately not to take any wickets in the first ODI, but he bowled quite well, conceding 33 runs in six overs without a wicket. In the second ODI, he picked up two important wickets of Tim Seifert and Will Young for 31 runs in seven overs.

It was then that Auqib remembered the tips from the batsmen Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and captain Shubman Gill when he bowled to them in the nets.

Since the best batters can deal with the swinging ball, the best batters in India have advised him to make his weapon a scrambled seam or hit the deck.

"It is my first time bowling in New Zealand, where conditions are slightly different. Here, you rely more on seam movement because top-level batters can handle swings. Their feedback was that bowling scramble seam or hitting the deck hard gives you a better chance of taking wickets here," Nabi was quoted as saying by ANI.

Nabi will stay with the Indian team for the two-Test series as a net bowler, as he was not picked in the Indian Test squad.

This experience is being cherished by Auqib as "an enriching one," as it might help him play with the red ball in the NZ environment, and the skills he learns now will definitely be useful to him in the future.

He also said that bowling in good areas and staying disciplined is the key, irrespective of the surface being a bowler-friendly or a batting-friendly one.

"It is very beneficial for all of us because we gain experience on how to bowl with the red ball in these conditions. Being around the national team is always an enriching experience, and there is a lot to learn. Regardless of the pitch, you have to bowl good deliveries, whether it is a helpful wicket or a flat track. Your objective remains bowling in good areas. Even when the wicket offers assistance, you still have to bowl with great discipline, because you can easily concede runs if you are not disciplined," Nabi stated.

Nabi reflected on his domestic career journey and gave a glimpse of his bowling mindset by relying on his strengths and letting the results do the talking.

The 29-year-old took 60 wickets for his team in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, enabling Jammu and Kashmir to clinch their maiden domestic trophy. His average was 12.56, with seven five-wicket hauls to his name.

Speaking on how his domestic grind has helped him at the international level, Auqib said, "It has helped a lot because our domestic cricket is at a very high standard. If you perform well there, you will usually, most probably, do well here as well. So, it has helped significantly."

"Obviously, having pace is very good, but I back my skill. I performed well and reached here based on my skill. Obviously, pace is a plus factor, but I back my strengths. What I did well in domestic cricket will work here too," he added.

Speaking on his calm demeanor, which is unlike a lot of pacers across the world, he said, "That has always been my mindset: do your job quietly, and let your skills—your batting and bowling—do the talking on the field."

Auqib, who hails from J&K and has undergone a tough road ahead without facilities, stated that the struggle lies in the hands of players, and once players do it, everything falls in place.

"It is indeed a huge honor to play for India. Anyone who takes up cricket, regardless of region, aims to play for the country; that was my goal as well. Whenever someone mentions a lack of facilities, I tell them to work as hard as they can with whatever limited facilities they have. Hard work is the only thing in a player's hands; everything else eventually falls into place. So, I tell them (youngsters) to keep working hard, no matter what," he added. 

Auqib has 58 List-A wickets in 40 matches at an average of 28.98, including three four-fers and 43 T20 wickets in 39 matches at an average of 25.27. He revealed that he never thought that his India debut would come in white-ball cricket.

"If you check my record, I have performed well in white-ball cricket for Jammu & Kashmir as well. To be honest, I wasn't expecting my maiden call-up in white-ball cricket; I was anticipating red-ball. Nonetheless, it is a great opportunity for me to show my skills here too, and it is a very positive experience," he signed off.

(ANI inputs)