It has often been said that RCB‘s batting unit is one of the most destructive in the league, and this was proven true in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season opener. However, SRH’s batting lineup was left stunned as Jacob Duffy took 3 wickets for 22 runs & delivered a spell of sheer precision and control to dismantle their top order. It wasn’t just a flurry of sixes that stole the headlines; instead, it was a masterclass in pace bowling.
While the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is traditionally a batter’s paradise, Jacob Duffy exploited the early moisture to turn a potentially high-scoring encounter into a disciplined bowling exhibition. Stepping in for the injured Josh Hazlewood, his opening spell decimated SRH’s power play and was the primary catalyst for RCB’s clinical victory last night.
Jacob Duffy’s pinpoint bowling stuns SRH
The match completely shifted in the third over when the debutant Jacob Duffy silenced the Chinnaswamy crowd with a clinical display of swing and precision. From his very first over, Duffy looked threatening for the SRH team. Bowling to one of the most aggressive opening pairs in the league – Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head – he set a benchmark by dismissing both batters in the space of just four deliveries. He first forced an edge from Abhishek Sharma before cleaning up Travis Head with a delivery that nipped back sharply.
The early movement off the pitch forced SRH’s top order into an uncomfortable position; by the time the third batter, Nitish Kumar Reddy, was dismissed, SRH was reeling at 29/3. Their top order was completely decimated by a bowler who, until yesterday, many had considered a mere injury replacement, triggering a collapse that SRH never quite recovered from.
Then came in captain Ishan Kishan, who refused to be dragged down under the pressure of the top-order collapse. Kishan was seen single-handedly dragging SRH back into the contest as he played a blistering counter-attacking knock of 80 off just 38 balls. Along with this, another major contribution came from a steady 43 by Aniket Verma. This duo ensured that SRH not only survived the opening burst but also thrived in the middle and late overs. SRH’s impressive spirit and determination guided them to a formidable 201/9, a total that seemed competitive until it was RCB’s turn to bat.