Indian fast bowler Auqib Nabi believes skill and seam movement are more important than raw pace when it comes to succeeding in international cricket. The right-arm pacer has credited his domestic cricket experience for helping him adapt to New Zealand’s challenging conditions, where extracting movement off the pitch can be particularly rewarding for fast bowlers.

The 29-year-old has featured in three ODIs since making his international debut. Although his home debut against the West Indies was relatively underwhelming, Nabi has gradually found ways to trouble opposition batters through movement in the air and off the surface. Operating at around 130 kmph, the pacer has focused on using his existing strengths rather than chasing additional speed.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the fourth ODI against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui, Auqib Nabi was asked whether he planned to increase his bowling speed. India currently lead the five-match series 2-0, while the third ODI was abandoned due to rain.

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“Obviously, if you have the pace, it is 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’s a plus factor,” Auqib Nabi said. “But I back my skill. What I did well in domestic will be useful here as well,” the Indian pacer added.

Auqib Nabi: Having pace is good but I back my skills. Doing what I did, and which got me here. Just doing what I did in domestic and it will help me here too.

You need to bowl well no matter how good/flat pitches are. When wickets are good, you need to bowl with discipline because you can go for runs.

It is my first time in New Zealand. You need to rely more on seam here – use scrambled seam because swing can be dealt with.

Weather back home and here is similar. Opposition and level of cricket is different.

We keep discussing amongst ourselves about plans for drop-in pitches. With Arshdeep and Anshul both.

— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) November 12, 2026

During the ongoing tour, Nabi has also benefited from bowling in the nets to experienced Indian batters Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The senior trio shared valuable inputs about adjusting his bowling approach to suit New Zealand’s conditions.

“Actually, this is my first time putting a ball in New Zealand. So, it’s a little different here. Here, you have to depend more on the seam movement. Because the top-level batters play swing,” Auqib Nabi explained. “So, that was their feedback (the trio). Here, if you do scramble seam or hit the deck, there is an opportunity to get more wickets here. That’s what they told me,” he further added.

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Nabi is expected to remain with the Indian squad following the ODI series to assist with preparations for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand, which begins on November 19.