NEW DELHI: New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy earned a spot in the Black Caps' squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup on Wednesday, riding on a sensational 2025 campaign that saw him claim 81 international wickets.

The 31-year-old surpassed a long-standing national benchmark, eclipsing Richard Hadlee's 40-year-old record of 79 wickets in a calendar year, and climbed to second place in the ICC T20I bowling rankings. He is the only member of a New Zealand squad boasting 1,064 T20 international caps who has yet to play at a T20 World Cup.

Duffy will be part of a seasoned New Zealand pace unit at the tournament in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, alongside Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham. Kyle Jamieson has been named as the travelling reserve fast bowler.

All-rounder Mitchell Santner will lead the New Zealand side at the tournament, heading a well-rounded spin group that features leg-spinner Ish Sodhi along with all-rounders Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.

Santner and Sodhi bring valuable World Cup experience, having previously represented New Zealand at the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.

Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Tim Seifert are the specialist batters in the squad. Seifert, who will also keep wicket, will join the squad at the conclusion of Australia's Big Bash League.

“We've got plenty of power and skill in the batting, quality bowlers who can adapt to conditions, plus five all-rounders who all bring something slightly different," New Zealand coach Rob Walter said. “This is an experienced group and the players are no strangers to playing in the sub-continent, which will be valuable.”

Allen (finger/hamstring), Chapman (ankle), Ferguson (calf), Henry (calf), and Santner (adductor) are receiving treatment. Ferguson and Henry's partners are due to give birth during the tournament and are likely to be granted short-term paternity leave.

Duffy led the New Zealand pace attack in all three formats during the New Zealand domestic season in the absence of Henry, Will O'Rourke, Ben Sears, Jamieson, Nathan Smith and Ferguson, all of whom were recovering from injuries.

His 81 wickets in 2025 came in 36 matches at an average of 17.

New Zealand will play a white ball series in India in January and a warm-up match against the United States before the World Cup in which it is drawn in Group D with Afghanistan, UAE, South Africa and Canada.

New Zealand squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

(With AP Inputs)