Lekin yeh sab itna aasan nahi hai jab aapka saamna South Africa jaise bade team se ho, woh bhi unke apne ghar Zimbabwe mein. Jacobs, jo South Africa mein paida hue, ab New Zealand ke liye khelne ko taiyaar hain. Yeh kahani thodi filmy lagti hai, lekin kya yeh asal mein itni chamak-dhamak wali hogi?
Jacobs, ek 23 saal ka hard-hitting batter, apne chhote se career mein kaafi kuch kar chuka hai. 2024 mein Mumbai Indians ne unhe IPL auction mein chuna, lekin ek bhi match nahi mila. Fir bhi, unhone Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, aur Jasprit Bumrah jaise stars ke saath nets mein kaam kiya, jisse unka confidence badha. Unki stats bhi kuch bura nahi kehti:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 5 | 476 | 59.50 | 100* |
| List A | 18 | 352 | 27.07 | – |
| T20 | 20 | 423 | 32.53 | – |
| ILT20 (2025) | 3 | 26 | – | – |
Jacobs ka yeh safar thoda sa us Netherlands team ki tarah hai, jinhone 2022 T20 World Cup mein South Africa ko hara diya tha. Tab kisi ne nahi socha tha ki ek chhoti team itna bada upset karegi. Jacobs bhi aise hi ek surprise package ho sakte hain. Unka six-foot ka frame aur lamba reach bowlers ke liye headache hai. Ek baar ILT20 mein, jab Zimbabwe ke Blessing Muzarabani ne ek hard-length ball daali, Jacobs ne usse extra-cover ke upar se chauka maar diya. Yeh dikhata hai ki woh pressure mein bhi damdaar shot khel sakte hain.
Ab Zimbabwe mein tri-series (July 14-26, 2025) mein, Jacobs ke paas mauka hai apne aap ko sabit karne ka. New Zealand ke coach Rob Walter ne kaha, “Bevon domestic cricket mein shandaar raha hai aur franchise leagues mein bhi experience liya hai.” Team mein Kane Williamson aur Lockie Ferguson jaise bade naam nahi hain, toh Jacobs ke liye yeh ek golden chance hai. Agar woh yahan dhamal macha de, toh 2026 T20 World Cup ke liye unka naam upar aa sakta hai, aur IPL 2026 mein Mumbai Indians shayad unhe playing XI mein chance de.
Lekin yeh raasta itna seedha nahi. South Africa ke paas Dewald Brevis aur Kwena Maphaka jaise young guns hain, jo IPL mein apna jalwa dikha chuke hain. Jacobs ko inka saamna karna hoga, aur Zimbabwe ke spin-friendly pitches bhi ek challenge honge. Kya woh apni power-hitting ko consistency ke saath jod payenge? Aur agar IPL mein dobara chance mila, toh kya woh bench se playing XI tak ka safar poora kar payenge? Yeh sawal abhi anjaan hain, aur shayad thodi si chinta bhi dete hain.
