New Zealand's five-match T20I series against India begins Thursday, October 22, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Jacob Duffy leads the New Zealand pace attack into the contest, bringing experience from a 2026 season that included reaching the T20 World Cup final and the IPL final with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Duffy's IPL campaign saw him share the RCB dressing room with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the India seamer who has returned to the national T20I squad following a lengthy absence from international cricket. Bhuvneshwar's last T20I appearance came during the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final against England in Adelaide.

"I did end up sort of picking Bhuvi's ear quite a lot, especially around slower balls and yorkers," Duffy was quoted as saying by Cricket News.

Bhuvneshwar's performance in IPL 2026 underscored his standing as a premier bowler. He took 28 wickets across 16 matches for RCB, averaging 17.89 with an economy rate of 7.95. That tally placed him among the tournament's leading wicket-takers, with only Kagiso Rabada finishing ahead on 29 wickets.

Why Duffy rates Bhuvneshwar among the world's best

Duffy was particularly impressed by Bhuvneshwar's technical mastery and consistency throughout the tournament. The New Zealand seamer observed how the Indian bowler combines raw skill with intelligent game awareness, making him a standout performer in the shortest format.

"I think he and probably Rabada are out there as two of the best bowlers in the whole tournament. You know he's not the fastest guy in the world, but man, he's so skillful," Duffy added.

"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.

The 36-year-old recently returned to India's playing XI for the fifth T20I against West Indies in Bengaluru, and his ability to swing the ball, maintain a disciplined line and length, and execute yorkers and slower deliveries could prove valuable against an aggressive New Zealand batting lineup. Jacob Duffy's praise also underlines the respect Bhuvneshwar has earned among his peers for his mastery of T20 bowling.