Even after catching the eye of some of the most powerful people in franchise Twenty20 cricket, earning his first black cap is Bevon Jacobs’ priority.
Having been a surprise pick-up by Indian Premier League (IPL) giants the Mumbai Indians late last year, Jacobs is now back in New Zealand and into winter training for Auckland, after sampling what cricket’s most lucrative tournament has to offer.
The 23-year-old shared a changing room with Indian superstars Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav, as well as compatriots Trent Boult and Black Caps white ball captain Mitchell Santner.
And even though Jacobs didn’t play a game while with Mumbai, the experience has left a positive imprint on the young batter.
“The experience was pretty unreal,” Jacobs told the Herald. “It’s a completely different setting, a different set of challenges, and a completely different experience.
“You’re in the nets, and it’s a competitive environment, you’re trying to focus, but then you know [Jasprit] Bumrah’s coming in to bowl at you.
“You’re pinching yourself, he’s the best bowler in the world. Facing that is pretty surreal.
“[You’re thinking] ‘wow, this is awesome, this is a great opportunity to challenge myself and learn something new.
“In all fairness, he cleaned me up third ball – which is pretty funny, but it was awesome.”
While breaking into an IPL team is a common feat for overseas players in 2025, Jacobs’ case of doing it before he’s played internationally is a rarity.
All up, he’s played just 20 games of T20 cricket as a professional, and scored 423 runs at an average of just over 32, but at an impressive strike rate of just under 150.
Jacobs’ game is largely based on power. At over six feet tall, he possesses the levers and strength to clear just about any boundary in the shortest format, as well as the ability to hit off the front and back foot.
As he matures as a cricketer, and as a batter in particular, Jacobs’ ability to clear the ropes will make him a sought-after commodity – for both club and country.
So much so that the Black Caps even called him into their T20 squad to face Sri Lanka over the new year, even if he wasn’t picked in New Zealand’s 2-1 series win.
As yet another South African-born player in New Zealand’s player pool, Jacobs is more BJ Watling than Devon Conway. His family relocated when he was a youth, meaning there’s no doubt as to where his loyalties lie as far as the Black Caps v Proteas goes.
While there was never any doubt in how much Jacobs knew he wanted to play international cricket, being that close has only reinforced how badly he wants to wear the silver fern.
And even though he can’t say for certain if he’s any closer to representing New Zealand, Jacobs knows nothing will speak louder than performing for Auckland.
“I’ve had some good conversations with some players and coaches, I know where I need to get to.
“You can’t answer if you’re close or far, but I’d like to think I can keep doing what I’m doing, chipping away and backing myself, put runs on the board, and it’ll happen.
“The want for me is really there. I’ve just got to keep working and we’ll see what happens.
“Hopefully it’s this season, but you never know.”
Given Jacobs’ career so far, it would be easy to label him as a T20, if not white ball specialist. But that isn’t the case.
After his maiden call-up, Black Caps chief selector Sam Wells emphasised that Jacobs is “more than just a hitter”.
In March, after Central Districts racked up a gargantuan 700/5 declared against Auckland in the Plunket Shield, Jacobs responded with 157 – his maiden first-class century – to help save the game.
Even if he’s managed only five red-ball games in his career to date, though, Jacobs makes it clear he sees himself as more than just a short-form specialist.
“All formats is something that’s really important for me. I spoke with Rob Nicol, the Auckland coach, a lot about how red ball helps my white-ball game. We worked hard on that because that’s where you get your base from.
“In the long run, I want to be a three-format player. I want that for New Zealand as well. I want to play test cricket.
“Having all three definitely helps each other. I’m not a white ball specialist or anything like that. It’s cool to have been picked up by [Mumbai], and they see something with my white-ball ability, same with New Zealand in the T20 series.
“But over the long run, I want to be a three-format player.”
Jacobs’ trajectory, though, comes at an interesting time in the sport.
Given the huge sums of money on offer in franchise T20 competitions, cricketers are repeatedly having to choose between club and country, given the inability of the game’s administrators to find a balance between the two.
This month, South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen and West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran prematurely ended their international careers to focus on T20 leagues.
For Jacobs, that would also be a very realistic possibility. As part of the Mumbai Indians, he’s able to put himself in the shop window for the organisation’s other teams.
Aside from the IPL, the Mumbai Indians also own teams in South Africa’s SA20, the UAE’s ILT20, and American Major League Cricket, as well as their owners having a 49% stake in English “The Hundred” outfit the Oval Invincibles.
It’s a world Jacobs has already experienced. After Auckland’s early elimination from last season’s Super Smash, Jacobs jetted off to the Middle East to play three games for MI Emirates, before returning to New Zealand.
But even with the lure of millions of dollars as a T20 gun for hire, Jacobs understands that doing well for his country will increase those chances.
“It’s something that everyone can see is happening, and the thought pops into your head. But for me, my dream was always to play for New Zealand.
“That T20 circuit is interesting, and it’s an enticing route. But the people who always perform the best in those tournaments are people that perform in international cricket.
“For me, that’s my goal. I want to play for New Zealand for as long as I can. If those opportunities present themselves in that time, that’s awesome.
“But I don’t think going from MI team to MI team is really the goal for me at the moment, as much as I would appreciate [it] if they saw me as that kind of player.”
Potentially aiding Jacobs’ push for a Black Caps spot is that it’s a time of significant change for the team.
Rob Walter has succeeded Gary Stead as head coach, as the team usher in a new era. Like Jacobs, Walter was born in South Africa but now calls New Zealand home.
And as Walter assesses the lie of the land before his job truly begins – coincidentally against the same South Africa side he just left – later this year, the 49-year-old has already been in touch with Jacobs.
“I’ve had a couple of chats with Rob. We’ve talked about my game a little bit and he’s given me some insights,” says Jacobs.
“It was good to chat with him and work with him a little bit to see how we can build on that relationship.
“It’s only been brief, but I look forward to seeing more of him, hopefully, in the future. I think it’s pretty exciting.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.
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