The cross-sport admiration between global icons often creates some of the most captivating stories in modern sports. Ahead of his highly anticipated campaign at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, tennis legend Novak Djokovic opened up about his unique, long-distance relationship with Indian cricket maestro Virat Kohli. Despite dominating completely different sporting arenas, the bond between the 24-time Grand Slam champion and the former Indian captain highlights a deep narrative of mutual respect and elite athletic understanding that has captured the attention of fans worldwide.
Novak Djokovic reflects on his friendship with Virat Kohli
Addressing the media on the sidelines of his training sessions at SW19, Djokovic shed light on his equation with Kohli, revealing that while their connection is strong, it has remained entirely digital so far. The Serbian master explained that the two have been consistently exchanging messages, tracking each other’s careers, and extending support from afar.
“We have not met in person, we have texted, we have been in touch for the last few years, following each other, supporting each other, admiring each other’s careers,” Djokovic shared in a video posted by Wimbledon.
The 39-year-old tennis star further fueled excitement by hinting at an upcoming visit to India. He expressed a desire to turn their virtual interactions into a real-world link-up, humorously suggesting a unique crossover event. “Hopefully, I will get a chance to meet him in person and play some tennis, play some cricket. I am also planning to come to India soon, so maybe that’s where we can get the link-up,” he added.
This isn’t the first time Djokovic has praised Kohli. Earlier, he credited the star Indian batter as his primary inspiration for tuning into cricket, a sport he had rarely followed previously. Djokovic emphasized that his appreciation stems from a place of deep respect for Kohli’s legacy and work ethic.
Here’s the video:
Dual pursuit of greatness in London and beyond
As Djokovic builds up to his opening-round clash against Wu Yibing on the lawns of London, he finds himself on the precipice of history. Entering the tournament as the seventh seed, Djokovic is chasing a historic eighth Wimbledon men’s singles title, a milestone that would draw him level with Roger Federer‘s all-time record on grass. Furthermore, a triumph would secure his 25th Grand Slam single’s crown, breaking his tie with Margaret Court to claim the absolute record for the most major titles in tennis history.
Concurrently, Kohli is preparing for his own high-stakes return to international action. The veteran batsman is coming off a sensational domestic run where he steered the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy.
Having retired from both Test and T20I formats, Kohli’s focus is exclusively anchored on One Day Internationals (ODIs). After recovering from a minor hamstring strain picked up during the IPL final, Kohli has passed his fitness tests and is ready to spearhead India’s batting lineup. His next assignment is a crucial three-match ODI series against England, set to commence on July 14 at Edgbaston, keeping both sporting icons under the absolute spotlight of global sports this summer.
