At Hnry Stadium in Wellington on November 7, Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabiproduced a sharp new-ball spell to remove two New Zealand batters inside
the first six overs of the second ODI of the five-match series. The highlight of his burst was a diving catch by wicketkeeper KL Rahul that sent Will Young back to the pavilion and gave Nabi his second international wicket.
Nabi's two-wicket burst in the opening six overs
Sony Sports Network shared footage of the dismissal on X, capturing the moment Rahul dived low to his right to complete the catch. Rahul initially moved in the opposite direction before adjusting his body and getting his gloves to the ball, completing a sharp take that drew attention from viewers following the match.
Arshdeep Singh opened the bowling with a maiden over to Young, and Nabi then took the second new ball. On the fifth ball of the second over, Nabi bowled a full delivery on off stump and Seifert was early into his drive, chipping the ball in the air. The catch was taken at short midwicket and Seifert departed for a five-ball duck, giving Nabi his maiden international wicket. New Zealand were left at 0/1 after 1.5 overs.
Nabi returned in the sixth over and this time found the outside edge of Young's bat with an outswinger that moved away from the right-hander. Rahul dived to his right and pouched the chance to complete the dismissal. Young had scored 6 off 17 balls before being sent back. The two wickets in quick succession left New Zealand at 29/3 after ten overs.
India's XI and series context heading into Wellington
India retained the same eleven that had won the first ODI in Auckland on November 4, meaning Nabi kept his place ahead of Mohammed Siraj. That opening match in Auckland had been a five-wicket victory for India, though Nabi had gone wicketless in his six overs, returning figures of 0/33. The Wellington contest was reduced to 47 overs per side due to rain before play began.
Nabi had received his maiden ODI cap, numbered 265, during the series against West Indies on September 30, 2026, having been named in the Indian ODI squad for that three-match series on September 16. Before the Wellington game, he had taken 56 wickets across 38 List A matches for Jammu and Kashmir, building the domestic record that earned him a place in the national setup.
