“This time, they avoided that mistake” - Irfan Pathan lauds New Zealand’s plan against star India batter in NZ vs IND 2026 4th T20I

Former cricketer Irfan Pathan has praised New Zealand’s bowling strategy against India opener Abhishek Sharma in the fourth T20I. The match was played at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30.

Put in to bat, New Zealand posted their highest-ever T20I total of 259/7, riding on Glenn Phillips’ blistering 107 off 49 deliveries. In reply, the Men in Blue could only manage 172/9, suffering an 87-run defeat. Abhishek contributed 27 off 15 balls, including three fours and a six.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Pathan stated that the hosts avoided repeating their earlier mistakes by not bowling a consistent length to Abhishek. He highlighted how the New Zealand bowlers kept varying their lengths, pointing to Jacob Duffy’s second over as an example, in which he mixed up his deliveries. Pathan said:

“The plan against Abhishek Sharma is to avoid bowling a consistent length, and it is an effective strategy. New Zealand's bowlers were following that approach and were not allowing him to free his arms by repeatedly bowling outside off stump, which had been one of their major mistakes in the previous matches. This time, they avoided that mistake. They also bowled at his pads, kept changing their lengths and used cross-seam deliveries.

“This was clearly visible in the third or fourth over, when Jacob Duffy bowled a short delivery outside off stump, followed by a fuller delivery when Abhishek's body was leaning back. Mitchell Santner also dropped a catch during that passage of play. Duffy then switched back to a shorter length after bowling full,” he added.

Abhishek remains the visitors' leading run-scorer in the series, having amassed 196 runs in four innings at an average of 49.00 and a strike rate of 227.90, including a century.

“Vaibhav should also get an opportunity” - Irfan Pathan on India’s playing XI for the 5th T20I

In the same video, Irfan Pathan suggested that the visitors should consider making changes to their playing XI for the fifth T20I, scheduled to be played in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1. He stated that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and other players who have not featured in the series so far should be given an opportunity. He also expressed hope that India would finish the series with a 4-1 scoreline. Pathan said:

“Can we expect to see changes in India's playing XI for the next match? Absolutely. India should make changes now that they have already won the series. Vaibhav should also get an opportunity, along with the other players who haven't featured in the series so far. Even if India loses that match, that's okay. However, I would hope that the series scoreline doesn't end at 3-2. A 4-1 result would look much better.”

India last played at the venue in January 2020, when they defeated New Zealand in a Super Over.

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