New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy showered rich praise on his Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar ahead of India's five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
Addressing the media ahead of the first T20I in Christchurch, Duffy noted that while Bhuvneshwar "is not the fastest guy in the world," his extraordinary ability to swing the ball, read batters, and nail precise lengths makes him one of the most skillful operators in the game.
The New Zealand tour marks a massive milestone for the 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar, who earned a national recall after nearly four years away. His last appearance for India was in November 2022.
“He's not the fastest guy in the world, but man, he's so skilful. Obviously, he swings the ball, he hits with a much better length, he reads batters very well, and he's got the skills to change it up too. So, it was very cool to see him from his team's point of view to be on his side and see how he goes about it. Looking forward to seeing him,” Duffy told reporters on Tuesday (October 20).
The duo shared a successful stint for RCB during the IPL 2026 season. Kumar finished as the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker, picking up 28 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 17.89. Duffy admitted he frequently "picked Bhuvi's ear" during the season to learn the art of executing slower balls and yorkers in tough Indian conditions.
Bhuvneshwar was rewarded for his brilliance in domestic cricket and the IPL over the last two seasons, serving as a vital architect in RCB’s historic back-to-back championship campaigns. While the right-arm seamer claimed 17 wickets in 2025, he was phenomenal this year, picking up 28 scalps and finishing with the best economy rate among the top five wicket-takers.
Duffy, who was also part of RCB’s triumphant campaign in 2026, acknowledged the challenge of bowling in Indian conditions. He hailed Bhuvneshwar and Kagiso Rabada as the best bowlers from the IPL 2026 season.
“Indian conditions, like the IPL is obviously, with the impact sub and with those pitches and those grounds, that's got to be the highest place in the world to bowl and him and probably Rabada right there, two obviously best bowlers in the whole tournament,” Duffy added.
Following the five T20Is, India will play five ODIs and two Test matches on the tour of New Zealand.
