New Delhi, March 29 New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy made an immediate impact on his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but remained grounded about his place in the star-studded Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) setup, reiterating that his primary role is to support and step into Josh Hazelwood's shoes when he is unavailable.
After taking 3-22 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in RCB's commanding six-wicket victory in the IPL 2026 opener on Saturday, Duffy reflected on both the experience of joining the league and the clarity around his role within the squad.
"It's amazing. As a New Zealander, you watch from the sidelines, and you see the glitz and glamour of the IPL, and to be a part of it and to be part of such an iconic franchise like RCB, that's pretty special, and I guess to start the campaign with such a comprehensive win, that's awesome," Duffy said in a video shared by IPL.
Thrown into the high-scoring environment of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Duffy had to quickly adapt to conditions that were far from familiar. Despite SRH posting 201/9, his disciplined bowling stood out, a point even opposition coach Daniel Vettori acknowledged after the match.
Duffy revealed that early preparation and observing past performances helped him settle in, saying, "Yeah, I think we had a good practice session the other day. I learned a lot about the Chinnaswamy pitch and what works well here, and the lengths you need to bowl. And then, of course, coming in last year, we had Josh Hazelwood, who obviously did really well here and showed us how to do it, and I tried to replicate that."
The Kiwi seamer admitted that the surface posed a different challenge than he had encountered recently.
"A little bit. I don't think I've seen a pitch like that in the last two months. There's actually some bounce and something that we didn't really come across. But, man, any time you're exposed to these kinds of conditions and the batters, it can only be good for your game."
While his performance marked him as one of the standout bowlers on the night, Duffy quickly shifted the focus away from personal success and towards team culture, something he said had impressed him even before joining the franchise.
"Great people. I've had a few friends play here over the years, and they've only spoken good things about RCB. The staff and overseas players have been very welcoming, and the locals as well. So, it's a great group to be a part of," he said.
In a squad that features established names like Josh Hazlewood, Duffy emphasised that his approach is rooted in humility and readiness, saying, "Yeah, obviously, you come in here, and you try to be a good person. That's what it's all about. Obviously, I come here with the role of being Josh's backup, so I just want to come in and be a good team player."
Duffy's debut performance not only helped RCB restrict SRH at crucial moments but also underlined the depth in their pace attack. While he may view himself as a “backup,” his opening-night display suggests he could play a far bigger role as the tournament progresses.
RCB will next play the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the same venue on April 5.