New Zealand bowling coach Jacob Oram has admitted that his side is finding it extremely difficult to contain India opener Abhishek Sharma in the ongoing five-match T20I series, conceding that there is no obvious weakness to target in the left-hander’s game. Oram acknowledged that even if the bowlers identify a potential flaw, executing a plan against Abhishek has proven to be a far greater challenge due to the chaos he creates at the crease.

Abhishek has been in breathtaking form and currently sits as the top-ranked men’s T20I batter in the world. Across three matches in the series so far, the aggressive opener has piled up 152 runs at an average of 76 and a staggering strike rate of 271.43, numbers that underline his dominance at the top of the order.

Apart from a rare first-ball duck in the second T20I—where he flicked one straight to deep square leg—Abhishek has dismantled the New Zealand attack with fearless intent and clean ball-striking. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Kacob Oram summed up the challenge candidly.

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“The answer to that is simple: it’s very difficult,” he said, as quoted by India Today. “When you look at his strike rate, it’s hard to identify any real weakness in his game. And even if you do, execution is the hardest thing in cricket—whether you’re batting or bowling.”

Despite the one-sided nature of the contest so far, Oram stressed that New Zealand are viewing the series as a valuable learning opportunity. With the T20 World Cup 2026 just days away, the coaching staff is keen to expose the players to high-pressure situations against elite opposition.

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“When the ball is flying everywhere and there’s chaos in the middle, it takes real composure to stay calm, stick to your plans and execute them,” Jacob Oram explained. He added that if New Zealand can absorb these lessons and carry them into the later stages of the World Cup, this tough tour would prove “hugely valuable” in the long run.