Jacob Duffy, New Zealand The fast medium bowler has registered his name in the INR 2 Crore Base Price category IPL 2026 mini-auction. Duffy has been in superb form, recently in a commanding position with a maiden five-wicket haul (5/34) in the first Test match on home soil in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Duffy is known for his new ball and exceptional wicket-taking skills, boasting a T20I average of 17.06 with 53 wickets. Particularly effective in New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition bowling tight overs at the death. His proven quality makes him a prime target for teams in need of a reliable overseas fast bowler. Duffy’s consistency, swing of the new ball, and high-impact wicket-taking ability across formulas have made him a prime target for franchises looking to forgo their previous fund, their previous focus on red-ball cricket, to acquire a player in such blistering form.
IPL 2026: 5 franchises to target Jacob Duffy in Indian Premier League mini-auction
1. Mumbai Indians (mi)
Mumbai Indians Enter the auction with the smallest purse of ₹ 2.75 crore and only one important map slot to fill. This limited budget forces them to target the one high-impact foreign player they can acquire. Duffy’s base price of ₹ 2 crore, he is one of the very high quality foreign players, is a realistic target and can be paid. His recent five-wicket haul shows his class and ability to perform in high-stakes situations. The new ball provides the threat and reliability they need to maximize their limited foreign budget, making him an immediate and high-value addition.
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Grab the second largest purse of ₹ 43.40 crore and have four foreign slots to fill. After releasing several pacers, incl Matheesha PathiranaCSK needs outside fast bowling reinforcements. In evaluating death-overs specialists, Duffy offers a valuable alternative to drifting in consistent handling and power performance. CSK have players who perform reliably in high-pressure matches and Duffy’s recent Test five boosts their big-match temperament. Their massive budget allows them to bid aggressively for Duffy to easily secure a reliable PACE option to balance their rebuilding bowling attack.
3. Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Rajasthan Royals (RR) It has a purse of ₹ 16.05 crore and nine slots to fill, including one important overseas slot. RR have left out several key players and need a foreign fast bowler to bring out the Indian pacer in their distribution. Duffy provides the perfect combination of swing and control with his right-arm fast medium pace. His consistent wicket-taking ability and more recently his stellar performance in test cricket make him an attractive option for a team looking for a specialist bowler to bolt the main bowling units, allowing each of his partners to focus on their key roles.
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4. Royal Paintings Bengaluru (RCB)
RCB have a purse of ₹ 16.40 crore and two foreign slots to fill. Pacers like Lungi Ngidi need a quality outside pacer to support RCB’s retained fast bowlers. Josh Hazlewood. Duffy is an excellent candidate who offers a distinctive style of right-arm fast medium bowling that can thrive on Indian pitches. A reliable new ball bowler and his reputation as a recent red ball heroics shows that he is in peak form. His reasonable base price RCB can afford him without spending a massive chunk of their budget without having to reserve funds for their priority targets (like RTM or Overseas RTM or Overseas Thakur).
5. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals (DC) ₹ 21.80 crore to fill and a solid purse of five overseas slots. DC’s bowling attack often lacked a high-quality foreign pacer who could deliver consistently without being prohibitively expensive. Duffy provides a strong, proven foreign option to balance the PACE attacks. The ability to take wickets and maintain a good economy rate will offer vital support against the contained Indian bowlers. DC will see Duffy’s current form as a golden opportunity to acquire a top-class, specialist pacer, adding much-needed depth and quality to their fast bowling unit.
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