New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy shared his excitement about sharing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) dressing room with veteran players like Virat Kohli and Josh Hazlewood. Duffy stated that it will be a bizarre experience in the dressing room during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
RCB signed Duffy for his base price of INR 2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi. The New Zealand fast bowler is yet to make his IPL debut. Duffy has taken 189 wickets in 167 T20 matches at an average of 24.91 and an economy rate of 8.47. He is currently representing New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026.
It’ll Be a Bizarre Experience – Jacob Duffy on Sharing Dressing Room with Virat Kohli
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Jacob Duffy said that playing alongside Josh Hazlewood will give him a chance to learn. Duffy also said that he has only seen Virat Kohli from the opposition side before and is excited to share the dressing room with him.
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“I’ll play alongside Josh Hazlewood, who I’ve always admired, so I’m looking forward to getting in his ear and seeing what it’s all about, what he’s about, and how he goes about his work,” Jacob Duffy said.
“I’ve seen Virat from the other side and how the local people treat him. It’ll be incredible to see what it’s actually like from being in his own changing room. It’ll be a bizarre experience, I’m sure.”
Jacob Duffy Set to Play Bigger Role as Josh Hazlewood’s Fitness Remains Uncertain
Jacob Duffy had an outstanding 2025 season, picking up 81 wickets across formats. He is set to be part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s pace unit alongside Josh Hazlewood.
Hazlewood’s availability remains uncertain after he missed the T20 World Cup due to injury. If the Australian is not fully fit for IPL 2026, Duffy is expected to take on a bigger role and lead the pace attack.
RCB have flexibility in their overseas combinations. They could field both pacers together, along with Phil Salt and Tim David, in some matches. In T20Is, the 31-year-old has taken 62 wickets in 47 matches at an average of 19.58 and an economy of 7.96, including five four-wicket hauls.
RCB Enter IPL 2026 as Reigning IPL Champions
Royal Challengers Bengaluru ended their long wait for an IPL title in 2025 after beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling final. The franchise had earlier reached the final in 2009, 2011, and 2016 but fell short on each occasion.
Ahead of IPL 2026, RCB retained most of their title-winning core while also adding fresh faces at the auction to further strengthen the squad for the upcoming season.
The year 2026 has already brought more success for the franchise. In the Women’s Premier League (WPL), RCB defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final to win the title for the second time. RCB became the only franchise to hold both the IPL and WPL titles at the same time.
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