'No weakness': Abhishek Sharma leaves New Zealand bowlers searching for answers

New Zealand’s bowlers have found themselves confronting one of modern T20 cricket’s most uncomfortable realities- sometimes the problem isn’t poor planning, it’s the batter standing at the other end. As India prepare for the next clash, Abhishek Sharma has emerged as the central puzzle the visitors cannot yet solve.

Bowling coach Jacob Oram admitted that even identifying a starting point against the left-hander has been a challenge. Speaking ahead of the match, Oram said Sharma’s scoring rate tells its own story-not just of aggression, but of completeness.

“When someone is striking it like that, the first difficulty is finding a weakness,” Oram explained. “The next difficulty is actually being able to bowl to a plan. In cricket, execution is everything, and that’s often the hardest part.”

Sharma’s approach has dictated the rhythm of the series. India’s top order has kept New Zealand in a state of constant adjustment, where even marginal errors are punished instantly. A fraction too full disappears over the rope; a hint of width vanishes through the off side. In such conditions, plans don’t just need to be clever -they need to survive immediate contact.

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For Oram, the real contest is happening in the mind. When runs come freely and the field is under siege, staying composed becomes as important as any technical tweak. A sound strategy means little if the bowler cannot deliver the next ball with clarity.

“When the game feels chaotic and the ball is flying everywhere, composure becomes critical,” he said. “You have to stay calm, stay in control, remember what you’re trying to do and then execute. That’s the challenge.”

Despite the heavy pressure, Oram views the series as a necessary stress test rather than a setback. With bigger stages looming in March, he believes these experiences - even the painful ones- will sharpen New Zealand’s bowlers for moments when matches are decided in a handful of deliveries.