New Zealand’s New Star Has a Big Checklist: Debut, World Cup, and an IPL Comeback
Bevon Jacobs stands on the brink of his international debut for New Zealand, with the hard-hitting batter set to face his birth country South Africa in Zimbabwe’s tri-series next month. The 26-year-old has already mapped out an ambitious roadmap – debut for the Black Caps, stake a claim for the 2026 T20 World Cup, and engineer a return to the Indian Premier League.
Born in Pretoria before moving to New Zealand at age three, Jacobs’ journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Since earning his maiden call-up for the home series against Sri Lanka last December, he’s ticked off several milestones. A maiden Plunket Shield century, debut in the UAE’s ILT20, and most recently, a CPL contract have all come his way.
Learning from the Best at Mumbai Indians
His three-month stint with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025, though without game time, proved invaluable. Working alongside legends like Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, and Lasith Malinga has equipped him with both technical and mental tools he believes will serve him well.
The IPL was an amazing experience. I got three months there to learn new facets of my game. Taking away from the technical stuff, there’s also a lot of mental learnings that I’ve got from it as well.
At over six feet tall, Jacobs possesses the power and reach to clear boundaries with ease – traits that caught Mumbai Indians’ attention. His ability to manipulate bowlers’ lengths was on full display during his ILT20 debut, where he dispatched Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani’s hard-length delivery over extra-cover with authority.
Eyes on the 2026 World Cup
The upcoming Zimbabwe tri-series represents more than just a potential debut. For Jacobs, it’s the first step toward his ultimate goal – representing New Zealand at the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
That is a massive goal for me. It would be a dream come true. I guess for me, it’s just about controlling what I can control.
New Zealand’s squad depth remains impressive despite missing several key players. Kane Williamson is unavailable due to county commitments, while Lockie Ferguson has been rested. Kyle Jamieson awaits his first child’s birth, and Ben Sears nurses a side injury. Yet coach Rob Walter sees this as an opportunity to test new combinations ahead of the World Cup.
Jacobs’ versatility adds another dimension to New Zealand’s plans. While he’s batted at No. 4 in domestic cricket, his finishing abilities have caught the eye of international franchises. “I’ve had almost two different roles – starting off in that finisher role, which is where Mumbai picked up a point of difference for me,” he explained.
The prospect of debuting against South Africa adds emotional weight to the occasion. Though he identifies as a Kiwi through and through, Jacobs acknowledges the special significance. “I’m sure a lot of family who are over in South Africa and just my family that are here would find that pretty cool.”
With strong performances in Zimbabwe, Jacobs hopes to boost his stocks for future franchise leagues. Having played just 20 T20s so far, teams already see his potential and high ceiling. An IPL return remains firmly on his wishlist.
Yeah, 100% hoping to return to the IPL. There’s players with a crazy amount of knowledge there. For me to be able to pick their brains and bring what they’ve learnt into my game is really cool.
As New Zealand prepare for their first match against South Africa on July 16, Jacobs represents the exciting future of Black Caps cricket. His journey from Pretoria to potentially facing the Proteas in international cricket showcases not just personal ambition, but New Zealand cricket’s ability to nurture talent from diverse backgrounds.
