Ashhar Alam / New Delhi

New Zealand’s bowlers are learning the hard way that calm can be elusive when Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav are in full flow.

In the ongoing T20I series, the Indian trio has dismantled the Kiwi attack with remarkable consistency, striking the ball at a rate close to 250 across the last three matches. For bowling coach Jacob Oram, the experience has been testing but also instructive.

“There’s a bit of chaos out there when the ball is flying to all parts,” Oram admitted on the eve of the fourth T20I. “The key is to stay composed, stick to plans and execute them. It’s difficult, but it’s all part of the learning curve.”

The ferocity of India’s batting has reminded Oram of former Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya, who redefined limited-overs batting in the 1990s and early 2000s.

“That kind of intent is a natural evolution of the game,” Oram observed. “When batters move the game forward, bowlers have to adapt. That’s our challenge now, and there’s a lot of thinking and discussion going on around it.”

Containing the Indian top order, however, has proven easier said than done. Abhishek Sharma, in particular, has been in ominous touch.

 Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav

“He’s in outstanding form, timing it beautifully,” Oram said. “You always hope to get someone like that early, but he’s not the only threat. Suryakumar has batted well, Ishan Kishan hurt us in the second game, and there are challenges right through their line-up.”

Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson echoed those sentiments after an extended net session ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

“He’s full of confidence and playing some incredible shots,” Ferguson said of Abhishek. “At times, the best option is to limit the damage get him off strike, bowl to the other batter and look for small openings.”

Ferguson’s return has added experience to a relatively young New Zealand bowling group, which has been under sustained pressure in Indian conditions. Oram acknowledged that keeping spirits high has not been easy.

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“These surfaces are very different from back home,” he explained. “There’s no green grass or extra bounce. You have to accept how tough it is here, respect the quality of the opposition, and still find areas where you can improve.”

For New Zealand, the series has become less about immediate results and more about adaptation. As Oram put it, the task now is to “peel back the layers”, learn quickly, and find ways to compete against a batting line-up operating at the cutting edge of modern T20 cricket.