Surpassing Richard Hadlee to maiden IPL contract; dissecting Jacob Duffy's dominant 2025

Jacob Duffy took 81 wickets in 2025 [Source: AFP Photos]

Heading into 2025, New Zealand cricket faced a major task — to find a fast bowler to lead the bowling attack alongside Matt Henry, following the international retirements of the stalwarts Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner. In stepped the 31-year-old Jacob Duffy, who was only 24 internationals old.

With a wealth of domestic experience to his name, he hit the ground running, quickly grabbing headlines and eventually earning his maiden Indian Premier League contract, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru swooped in for a steal deal at just 2 crores. Here's a brief look at his memorable 2025.

Becoming the mainstay

Throughout the year, he consistently chipped in with crucial wickets, with his hit-the-deck bowling, while exhibiting strong control in white-ball cricket. His match-winning four-fers against Pakistan at an economy rate of under 6 saw him climb up to the top of the T20I bowling rankings.

In 2025, he took three four-fers — all in winning causes. He guided New Zealand to dismantle Pakistan for 91 in Christchurch with 4/14, followed by 4/20 in Mount Maunganui to set up a 115-run win. Later in the year, he led the attack to restrict West Indies for 140 with a 4/35 in Dunedin, finishing the year with 35 T20I wickets, 16 more than the second-best Blackcaps star, Ish Sodhi.

While he did not feature in the Kiwis' run to the ICC Champions Trophy final, his consistent T20I performances earned him a regular spot in the 50-over set-up. He once again bowled well against England and the West Indies and finished as their second-best pacer in the year, with 21 scalps.

Record-shattering first steps in Tests

Having toiled hard in the domestic circuit for Otago since 2012, with over 100 First Class games under his belt, Duffy got his first Test cap in mid-2025, and straightaway oozed experience. While he was initially supposed to be Henry's support cast, an injury to Henry, alongside the likes of Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner and Will O'Rourke, meant the Otago pacer had his moment to shine, and he did not let his team down.

The bowler scalped 5/34 and 3/122 in the first Test vs West Indies in Christchurch and bowled a whopping 60.4 overs in the drawn match. He backed up the marathon effort with two more five-wicket hauls and a four-fer to end the series with 23 wickets, while also surpassing Richard Hadlee's 40-year-old record of 79 wickets in a year for NZ.

As New Zealand ended their international calendar with a series win over the Caribbean, Duffy emerged as their most-used pacer, having played 36 matches in the year. Only Daryl Mitchell (42) and Michael Bracewell (41) played more matches than him.

Jacob Duffy's 2025 in numbers

(Jacob Duffy's 2025 record in every format)

Most wickets for New Zealand in a year

1. Jacob Duffy (2025) - 81 wickets in 36 matches
2. Richard Hadlee (1985) - 79 wickets in 23 matches
3. Daniel Vettori (2008) - 76 wickets in 33 matches
4. Trent Boult (2015) - 72 wickets in 25 matches
5. Trent Boult (2017) - 69 wickets in 27 matches

Bowlers with the most T20I powerplay wickets in 2025

1. Jacob Duffy - 20 wickets in 20 innings at an economy of 6.47
2. Jason Holder - 12 wickets in 21 innings at an economy of 8.88
3. Shaheen Afridi - 12 wickets in 21 innings at an economy of 6.98
4. Dushmantha Chameera - 10 wickets in 14 innings at an economy of 6.71
5. Richard Ngarava - 10 wickets in 21 innings at an economy of 7.16.

(Bowlers with most powerplay wickets in 2025. Only ICC full members considered)

New Zealand bowlers with most wickets in a home series

1. Jacob Duffy vs West Indies, 2025 - 23 wickets in 3 matches
2. Trent Boult vs West Indies, 2013 - 20 wickets in 3 matches
3. Richard Hadlee vs West Indies, 1980 - 19 wickets in 3 matches

Up next, he will travel to India for three ODIs and five T20Is as the Kiwis prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, where he is likely to feature as one of the first-choice pacer in their pursuit of the first title. His stay in India will extend till late May, as he joins RCB primarily as an understudy to Josh Hazlewood, although his current form and reputation as a solid powerplay could well earn him a spot in the XI for some matches.

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