Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for acquiring New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy at his base price in the IPL mini auction. Duffy, aged 31, has been in exceptional form, recently securing the number two spot in the T20I bowlers’ rankings. He impressed with a nine-wicket haul in the Test series against West Indies, breaking Richard Hadlee’s 40-year-old record for most wickets in a calendar year by a New Zealand bowler. Ashwin commended Duffy’s performance, labeling 2025 as his “coming of age” year.
RCB signed Duffy for INR 2 crore, making him a valuable addition to their squad for the upcoming IPL season. Along with Duffy, RCB also secured the services of players like Venkatesh Iyer, Jordon Cox, Mangesh Yadav, and Vihaan Malhotra in the auction. The team’s finalized squad for IPL 2026 includes key players like Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Krunal Pandya, among others. Ashwin hailed RCB’s move to acquire Duffy, considering it a “sensational coup” given the pacer’s impressive performances and potential impact on the team’s success in the tournament.
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