Jacob Duffy Hails Bhuvneshwar Kumar Ahead of NZ-India T20Is

Respect before the contest begins

New Zealand and India are set to open a five-match T20I series at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, October 22, but the early talking point is already a strong one: Jacob Duffy’s admiration for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The New Zealand seamer has not just studied the India veteran closely, he has come away impressed by the craft, control and intelligence that still make Bhuvneshwar a dangerous white-ball bowler.

Duffy’s comments carry extra weight because he spent time alongside Bhuvneshwar in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru dressing room during IPL 2026. That experience gave the New Zealand quick a front-row view of one of the game’s most experienced operators, and he was quick to underline how much he learned from the India bowler’s skill set.

Learning from a seasoned operator

“I did end up sort of picking Bhuvi’s ear quite a lot, especially around slower balls and yorkers,” Duffy said, according to Cricket News. That remark says a lot about Bhuvneshwar’s influence. Even among international bowlers, his variations remain a reference point for younger pacers and fellow seamers looking to sharpen their T20 craft.

Duffy’s praise was not limited to one or two deliveries. He went further, placing Bhuvneshwar alongside Kagiso Rabada as one of the best bowlers in the tournament. The New Zealand seamer was struck by how the India veteran consistently out-thought batters rather than simply relying on pace.

Why Bhuvneshwar still stands out

The numbers from IPL 2026 backed up that reputation. Bhuvneshwar took 28 wickets in 16 matches for RCB, finishing with an average of 17.89 and an economy rate of 7.95. That return placed him among the leading wicket-takers in the season, with only Rabada ahead on 29 wickets. For a bowler who has built his career on swing, precision and subtle changes of pace, those figures reinforced his value in modern T20 cricket.

“He swings the ball, he hits an immaculate length, he reads batters very well, and he’s got the skills to change that up too,” Duffy said. It was a clear endorsement of a bowler whose impact often comes from control rather than raw speed. In a format where margins are tight, that can be the difference between containing a batting surge and watching the game slip away.

Return to India’s T20I side adds intrigue

Bhuvneshwar’s return to India’s T20I setup has added another layer of interest to the series. The 36-year-old recently came back into India’s playing XI for the fifth T20I against West Indies in Bengaluru, and his comeback underlines the belief that he still has plenty to offer at the international level.

His last T20I before that came in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide, so his re-emergence is notable. Against New Zealand, a side that likes to attack early and keep pressure on the bowling unit, his skills with the new ball and at the death could prove especially important.

Ahead of a compelling duel

For New Zealand, Duffy’s comments are a sign of genuine respect, not hype. For India, they are a reminder that Bhuvneshwar’s reputation remains intact even after periods away from the international stage. In a series that already promises pace, swing and tactical battles, the conversation between these two seamers has given the contest an early edge.

As Duffy put it, Bhuvneshwar is not necessarily the fastest bowler around, but that may be beside the point. In T20 cricket, skill often wins the biggest battles, and few bowlers have shown more of it than the India veteran. With five matches ahead, that duel between experience and execution could shape much more than the opening game.