RCB’s new recruit Jacob Duffy breaks Sir Richard Hadlee’s record, becomes first New Zealand player to…

Anirudh, an engineer by training, has been contributing to Khel Now since 2024. He loves crafting inspiring stories.

Published at :December 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM

Modified at :December 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

Jacob Duffy broke Sir Richard Hadlee’s record for most wickets in a calendar year by a Kiwi bowler.

Jacob Duffy continues to impress everyone, having already made his mark in the shortest format. The New Zealand pacer now ended his year with a fabulous stint in red ball against West Indies, picking 23 wickets at a strike rate of 40.3, and earning the Man of the Series award as well, on tracks which were batting friendly and had very little assistance for the bowlers.

Duffy finished the series with a five-wicket haul, with his figures reading 5/42, including the wickets of the well-set Brandon King, Alick Athanaze and captain Roston Chase.

He claimed nine wickets in total during the course of the third test match, helping New Zealand win the contest by a massive margin of 323 runs, and seal the series 2-0.

Duffy’s heroics saw him move past Trent Boult, Daniel Vettori and Sir Richard Hadlee, to create a record of most wickets by New Zealand bowler in a calendar year. He ended 2025 with 81 wickets, bettering Richard Hadlee’s record of 79 wickets.

Most wickets for New Zealand in a calendar year

Jacob Duffy – 81
Sir Richard Hadlee – 79
Daniel Vettori – 76
Trent Boult – 72

Jacob Duffy signing off for 2025 in style.#NZvWIN pic.twitter.com/2TuJJgQ2oB
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 22, 2025

The 31-year-old is also currently ranked at second spot in ICC T20I rankings, having taken 53 wickets at an economy of 7.36 in 38 matches.

The Blackcaps have certainly found a new star amongst their ranks, and the national team will be raring to unleash their gun quick at the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

New Zealand won’t be the only ones rooting for Duffy. At the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) picked him up at his base price of 2 Cr.

In many ways a steal buy, Duffy could not only be the perfect backup for Josh Hazelwood, but might as well play alongside the Aussie, should RCB look to bolster their pace bowling attack.

Who holds the record for most wickets by a New Zealander in a calendar year?

Jacob Duffy, with 81 wickets in a single calendar year.

Which legendary bowlers did Jacob Duffy surpass to set this record?

Jacob Duffy went past Sir Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori, and Trent Boult.

Which IPL team signed Jacob Duffy at the mini-auction?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed him at his base price of ₹2 crore.

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Aniruddh Seshadri

Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.