Jacob Duffy, New Zealand’s talented bowler, fondly recalls his time at IPL 2026, where he forged a unique camaraderie with India and RCB star, Virat Kohli. Reflecting on his experiences ahead of the forthcoming ODI series between New Zealand and India in Auckland, Duffy described Kohli as “down to earth” despite his near-religious status in India.
During an interaction in Auckland on Sunday, Duffy shared: “I got to see him [Kohli] yesterday. He was in the gym, obviously, so running into him there was cool, but he was awesome to me.” He appreciated Kohli’s welcoming nature, particularly towards overseas players at RCB, stating, “It’ll be awesome to play against him now that I’ve sort of shared a changing room with him as well.”
In examining Kohli’s approach to cricket, Duffy noted: “He’s got a great work ethic. Obviously, 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.” He also highlighted the lessons he gleaned from Kohli concerning strategy on different Indian pitches, adding insights into line and length.
Duffy’s recent T20I performances have seen highs and lows, with a challenging outing in Wellington followed by a strong four-wicket performance in Auckland. He is now gearing up to transition to the ODI format, which he holds in high regard and sees as vital preparation for the World Cup next year in Southern Africa.
Discussing the upcoming series, Duffy conveyed his enthusiasm: “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.” Reflecting on past World Cups, he noted, “Growing up [watching the] 2015 World Cup, 2019 World Cup, those, to me, are the pinnacles of our game.”
As New Zealand prepares for the global stage, Duffy sees these matches as crucial for making a case for inclusion in the World Cup squad, emphasising the series’ significance.
