New Zealand National Cricket Team fast bowler Jacob Duffy is another fan of the Indian batting icon Virat Kohli. Ahead of the 5-match ODI series between New Zealand and the India National Cricket Team, Duffy praised Virat to the sky.

India's ODI team for the 50-over series has arrived in New Zealand. Even outside India, Virat Kohli receives a warm welcome; New Zealand is no exception. Jacob Duffy told the reporters that he ran into Virat in the gym.

Jacob Duffy heaped praise on Virat Kohli

Team India has won the recently concluded 5-match T20I series despite losing the last two matches. Jacob Duffy was a constant figure in New Zealand's bowling line-up from the second match to the end of the series. The 32-year-old claimed 5 wickets in four matches, including a 4-fer in Auckland, in the fourth T20I.

New Zealand Cricket announced split teams for the 5-match ODI series. Duffy is a crucial part of both squads. He is expected to take the field against Virat Kohli during the 50-over competition.

Ahead of the series, Duffy called Kohli a religious figure because of his massive popularity in India. Despite his megastar stature, the New Zealand speedster was awestruck when he first saw Virat very close to the ground. Duffy was a part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad in the previous edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). He took a major role for RCB in the absence of their prime seamer Josh Hazlewood. From his days with RCB, Duffy got to know Virat Kohli.

Jacob Duffy calls Virat Kohli a 'religious figure'

In the IPL 2026 season, the Kiwi pacer took nine wickets in six matches with an economy rate of 10.95. After winning their maiden title in IPL 2025, they defended their title successfully in 2026.

“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. Obviously, for such a religious figure, I guess you almost say, in India, he is obviously a megastar over there; for him to be so down-to-earth and sort of welcome all of us overseas guys in RCB was pretty cool, so very appreciative of him for that,” said Jacob Duffy.

Jacob Duffy vs Virat Kohli in IND vs NZ 5-match ODI series

Duffy further told the media that it will be awesome to play against the star batter. Duffy has bowled a lot in the nets. So, just as Daffy knows Virat well, Virat is equally aware of Daffy. The upcoming ODI series is all set to unlock a fresh rivalry.

“It will be awesome to play against him now that I have sort of shared a changing room with him as well. He has 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,” Duffy added.