From sharing RCB dressing room to facing him: Jacob Duffy excited about Virat Kohli challenge
toi
newspoint|01-11-2026
NEW DELHI: Jacob Duffy is looking forward to facing Virat Kohli in the upcoming ODI series between India and New Zealand. The New Zealand fast bowler has already had a close look at the Indian batting star, having shared the dressing room with him at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during their title-winning IPL campaign earlier this year.
Duffy was impressed by Kohli's attitude and work ethic during their time together. He also spoke about how the former India captain made the overseas players feel welcome despite being one of the biggest sporting stars in the country.
"I got to see him yesterday. He was in the gym, obviously, so running into him there was cool, but he was awesome to me," Duffy was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
'It'll be awesome to play against him'
Duffy described Kohli as a "religious figure" in India but said the batter remained down-to-earth around his teammates at RCB.
"For such a religious figure, I guess you almost say, in India - he's obviously a megastar over there - for him to be so down-to-earth and sort of welcome all us overseas guys in RCB was pretty cool, so very appreciative for him for that.
"It'll be awesome to play against him now that I've sort of shared a changing room with him as well," he added.
India and New Zealand will begin their five-match ODI series in Auckland on November 4. For Duffy, the contest will be special as he gets to face a player he has already spent considerable time with during the IPL.
'He was always the first batter and I was always the first bowler'
Duffy had plenty of opportunities to bowl to Kohli during RCB's practice sessions. He said their regular net sessions helped both players understand each other's game.
"He's got a great work ethic. I bowled a lot to him in the nets because he was always the first batter and I was always the first bowler. We actually spent a lot of time facing each other in the nets, so that's quite cool. But also from there, he's seen a lot of me now too, so he'll have good preparation."
Duffy will also enter the ODI series with some confidence after bouncing back in the fourth T20I. He had conceded plenty of runs in the second and third matches but took four wickets in the fourth game, which New Zealand won by 87 runs.
Duffy has an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup
The New Zealand pacer is also looking forward to the challenge of ODI cricket. He believes the 50-over format offers a different test for bowlers compared to T20Is.
"Personally, I quite like ODI cricket. What I like about it is that up top, you get a little bit of the hard lengths with the swinging ball and stuff like that. Then you get a little bit of the hit and giggle near the end."
With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa approaching, Duffy sees the upcoming series as an important opportunity to strengthen his case for a place in New Zealand's squad.
"We've also got the World Cup about this time next year in South Africa. That's pretty high on the priority list, I think.
"Growing up (watching the) 2015 World Cup, 2019 World Cup, those, to me, are the pinnacles of our game. Those are the major events that I grew up watching and strived for and wanted to be there for those.
"A year out from that, these games play a pretty important roles in that. I guess we're trying to build and push for a case to make that squad," he added.
Duffy was impressed by Kohli's attitude and work ethic during their time together. He also spoke about how the former India captain made the overseas players feel welcome despite being one of the biggest sporting stars in the country.
"I got to see him yesterday. He was in the gym, obviously, so running into him there was cool, but he was awesome to me," Duffy was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
'It'll be awesome to play against him'
Duffy described Kohli as a "religious figure" in India but said the batter remained down-to-earth around his teammates at RCB.
"For such a religious figure, I guess you almost say, in India - he's obviously a megastar over there - for him to be so down-to-earth and sort of welcome all us overseas guys in RCB was pretty cool, so very appreciative for him for that.
"It'll be awesome to play against him now that I've sort of shared a changing room with him as well," he added.
India and New Zealand will begin their five-match ODI series in Auckland on November 4. For Duffy, the contest will be special as he gets to face a player he has already spent considerable time with during the IPL.
'He was always the first batter and I was always the first bowler'
Duffy had plenty of opportunities to bowl to Kohli during RCB's practice sessions. He said their regular net sessions helped both players understand each other's game.
"He's got a great work ethic. I bowled a lot to him in the nets because he was always the first batter and I was always the first bowler. We actually spent a lot of time facing each other in the nets, so that's quite cool. But also from there, he's seen a lot of me now too, so he'll have good preparation."
Duffy will also enter the ODI series with some confidence after bouncing back in the fourth T20I. He had conceded plenty of runs in the second and third matches but took four wickets in the fourth game, which New Zealand won by 87 runs.
Duffy has an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup
The New Zealand pacer is also looking forward to the challenge of ODI cricket. He believes the 50-over format offers a different test for bowlers compared to T20Is.
"Personally, I quite like ODI cricket. What I like about it is that up top, you get a little bit of the hard lengths with the swinging ball and stuff like that. Then you get a little bit of the hit and giggle near the end."
With the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa approaching, Duffy sees the upcoming series as an important opportunity to strengthen his case for a place in New Zealand's squad.
"We've also got the World Cup about this time next year in South Africa. That's pretty high on the priority list, I think.
"Growing up (watching the) 2015 World Cup, 2019 World Cup, those, to me, are the pinnacles of our game. Those are the major events that I grew up watching and strived for and wanted to be there for those.
"A year out from that, these games play a pretty important roles in that. I guess we're trying to build and push for a case to make that squad," he added.
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