After seeing Jacob Duffy’s IPL debut during RCB vs SRH, it’s pretty sure that everyone will be hoping that their works were similar. Not, of course, in terms of bowling in Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head at the start, but the fact that it only took seven matches for him to return to the dugout.
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But before Duffy finished his day’s work, he crashed the Hyderabad top order to put RCB on top in the opener of IPL 2026. The New Zealand pacer, bought at his base price of Rs. 2 crore, picked up three wickets for just 22 runs in his four overs. This included a double strike in which Abhishek and Head returned to the pavilion before dismissing Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Duffy bowled four overs at the trot and was promptly replaced by Devdutt Padikkal.
CAN DUFFY GO BACK TO THE HOTEL NOW?
RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik had a chat during the match where he asked what Duffy’s reaction was after he was pulled off the field.
“As soon as he came, he said it was the best I had ever played. I was done for the day,” said Karthik.
Kevin Pietersen asked if Duffy could go back to the hotel now that he was done for the day, and Karthik said match day duties meant he would have to stay at the stadium.
“Ideally, he can go back to the hotel if he wants to, but because there is a game, he has to wait. But the thing is, he is done for the day. He can’t bat. In fact, he can’t even come on as a substitute at any point of time. So, in so many words, I would say his game is done. He has done a great job,” Karthik said.
IS DUFFY THE PERFECT FOIL FOR HAZLEWOOD?
Karthik said they got Duffy because he was similar to Josh Hazlewood in terms of skill. Hazlewood is with the RCB team and is expected to be fit and ready soon.
“We really believe that Duffy could do exactly something very similar to what Josh Hazlewood has done and he showed a version of that today, very happy with how he started,” Karthik said.
Duffy recorded the third best performance by a debutant for RCB in their history.
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Published on:
28 March 2026 20:54 IST
