Watch: Double blow for SRH as Jacob Duffy removes Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head in IPL 2026 opener

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has finally started on March 28 with the first match slated between the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. It was the home captain who won the toss and put the visitors to bat first. The stadium is packed with an audience who have come to support RCB. 

SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head did try to give a good start, but the RCB bowlers kept them under control, especially Jacob Duffy, who dismissed the openers in one over, giving the much-needed breakthrough to the team. His bowling has been phenomenal in today's game, and that might be the game-changing moment for the Royals. It was indeed a dream debut for Jacob Duffy. 

Jacob Duffy strikes twice in one over to stun Sunrisers Hyderabad

In the third over, the pacer dismissed both Head and Abhishek within a matter of a few deliveries, pushing SRH's batting attack to their back foot. On the first ball of the over, Duffy bowled a short ball, and since it had pace, Abhishek tried to hit a pull shot. However, the ball got a thick edge off the bat and went straight up into the air. Jitesh Sharma took a perfect catch to dismiss the batter. 

Then, Head was dismissed in the last ball of the same over. Duffy tried the same trick as he bowled a short ball again, and the batter went on to hit it. However, Phil Salt was at the deep backward square leg and took a well-judged reverse cup catch. Well, Duffy didn't stop there and went on to dismiss Nitish Reddy in the fifth over, making it a three-wicket haul on his debut for RCB. 

Watch the video here:

Brief Scores: SRH 70/3 in 8 overs (Ishan Kishan 30*, Henrich Klaasen 17*, Jacob Duffy 3/17) vs RCB.