The cricketing world stood still on December 22, 2025, when Jacob Duffy officially entered the pantheon of New Zealand greats by breaking a record that many believed was untouchable.
NZ vs WI: Jacob Duffy surpasses the legacy of New Zealand great Sir Richard Hadlee
By dismissing the final West Indian batter at Mount Maunganui during the 3rd and final Test, Duffy took his tally to a staggering 81 wickets in a single calendar year, eclipsing the legendary Sir Richard Hadlee’s 1985 record of 79 wickets. This feat is even more remarkable considering it came in a year where Duffy acted as the ultimate “marathon man” for the Black Caps, bowling over 154 overs in the Test series against the West Indies alone. Hadlee’s record had stood as a benchmark of excellence for four decades, representing the peak of Kiwi fast-bowling longevity and skill, yet Duffy managed to find a higher gear through sheer volume and effectiveness.
In the final Test of the year, he snared a match-winning five-wicket haul, taking 9 wickets in the match and securing the Player of the Series award with 23 wickets at a ridiculous average of 15.4. Throughout the season, Duffy thrived in the absence of senior bowlers like Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson, taking on the responsibility of the new ball and the old with equal ferocity. His ability to maintain pace and swing across 36 international matches this year proved that he is no longer just a supporting act but the leading man of the attack. As he stood at the Bay Oval, having rewritten the history books, the applause from the crowd acknowledged a new king of the statistical mountain in New Zealand cricket.
| Player | Year | Matches | Wickets | Best Figures | 5-Wkt Hauls |
| Jacob Duffy | 2025 | 36 | 81 | 5/34 | 3 |
| Richard Hadlee | 1985 | 23 | 79 | 9/52 | 6 |
| Daniel Vettori | 2008 | 33 | 76 | 6/56 | 5 |
| Trent Boult | 2015 | 25 | 72 | 5/27 | 3 |
| Trent Boult | 2017 | 27 | 69 | 7/34 | 2 |
| Chris Cairns | 1999 | 30 | 68 | 7/27 | 4 |
| Daniel Vettori | 2004 | 34 | 66 | 6/28 | 5 |
| Trent Boult | 2018 | 27 | 66 | 6/30 | 3 |
| Tim Southee | 2022 | 31 | 65 | 5/35 | 1 |
| Matt Henry | 2025 | 27 | 65 | 6/39 | 3 |
The 2025 renaissance for Duffy: Global dominance and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru call-up
Beyond the record-breaking numbers, 2025 served as the definitive breakthrough year for Duffy, as he became the highest wicket-taker in world cricket across all formats. His ascent began in March when he briefly touched the World No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings following a devastating series against Pakistan, where he repeatedly dismantled their top order with his signature outswing. He proved to be a versatile weapon, picking up 35 wickets in 21 T20Is and 21 wickets in 11 ODIs, showing that his craft was effective regardless of the color of the ball or the nature of the pitch.
Duffy’s red-ball transition was equally seamless; after making a long-awaited Test debut in August against Zimbabwe, he finished the year with 25 Test wickets in just four matches. This incredible cross-format consistency did not go unnoticed by the scouts of the Indian Premier League, leading to a life-changing moment at the IPL 2026 Auction.
In Abu Dhabi, the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), secured Duffy for a ‘bargain’ price of INR 2 crore to bolster their pace battery alongside the likes of Josh Hazlewood. RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, hailed the signing as a masterstroke, noting that Duffy’s ability to swing the ball at the Chinnaswamy Stadium would be a vital asset for their title defense.
