New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy has revealed how his experience of sharing the dressing room with Indian superstar Virat Kohli during the IPL 2026 left a lasting impression on him. Despite Kohli enjoying an almost iconic, larger-than-life status in India, Jacob Duffy was impressed by his humble and welcoming nature.
Jacob Duffy, who represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the IPL 2026, said Virat Kohli made overseas players feel comfortable and welcomed in the dressing room. He described the experience as special and expressed his gratitude towards the Indian batting legend for making everyone feel at home.
The New Zealand pacer also admitted that he is looking forward to facing Virat Kohli in the upcoming five-match ODI series between India and New Zealand. The series is set to begin in Auckland on Wednesday.
Jacob Duffy recently got another opportunity to meet Virat Kohli at the gym and said the Indian batter had always been approachable and friendly towards him. He also spoke about Kohli’s tremendous dedication to the game and his impressive work ethic.
During RCB’s practice sessions in the IPL 2026, Jacob Duffy frequently bowled to Virat Kohli in the nets. Interestingly, Kohli was usually the first batter to begin batting practice, while Duffy was often the first bowler to take the ball.
The fast bowler said that sharing a dressing room with someone as celebrated as Kohli and experiencing his grounded personality was a memorable experience. He added that facing him in international cricket would be particularly exciting after having trained alongside him during the IPL. Jacob Duffy also played an important role in RCB’s title-winning IPL 2026 campaign, picking up nine wickets in six appearances.
Meanwhile, Jacob Duffy had an eventful outing in the recently concluded T20I series against India, producing contrasting performances across the matches. In the third T20I in Wellington, the New Zealand pacer had an expensive outing, conceding 44 runs in just two overs. India comfortably chased down the target of 199, reaching it with 40 deliveries remaining.
However, Jacob Duffy bounced back strongly in the fourth T20I in Auckland. He picked up four wickets for just 23 runs (4/23), helping New Zealand secure a convincing 87-run victory over India. His final appearance in the fifth T20I was less impressive, as he conceded 27 runs in his three overs.
With the five-match ODI series approaching, Jacob Duffy will now be looking to carry his experience and lessons from the IPL into the international contest. His upcoming battle against Virat Kohli is likely to be one of the most interesting match-ups to watch in the India-New Zealand series.
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