Although Virat Kohli and Novak Djokovic have never met in person, they have fostered a friendship over the years. The two sports legends have kept in touch through Instagram messages, appreciating each other’s journeys from a distance. Now, it seems that this long-distance camaraderie may finally lead to a face-to-face encounter.
Event Context
During an interview at Wimbledon 2026, Novak Djokovic shared his plans to visit India, where he hopes to finally meet cricket superstar Virat Kohli. The tennis legend expressed excitement about the possibility of playing tennis and cricket with the former Indian captain.
“Though we haven’t met face-to-face yet, we’ve been in touch via text for several years, supporting and appreciating each other’s careers. I’m looking forward to the chance to meet him in person, play some tennis and cricket together. I’m also planning a trip to India soon, so that could be the perfect opportunity for us to connect,” Djokovic stated to Star Sports, the official broadcaster for Wimbledon 2026.
In January 2024, Djokovic first publicly acknowledged his connection with Kohli during the Australian Open, mentioning their ongoing text exchanges and expressing his admiration for Kohli’s remarkable achievements in cricket.
“Virat and I have been texting for a few years. We haven’t met yet, but it’s been a pleasure to hear him speak positively about me,” Djokovic shared with Sony Sports. “I have great respect for his career and accomplishments. I’ve even started to play cricket myself, though I’m not very skilled. I need to practice my cricket skills before heading to India to avoid embarrassing myself while I’m there.”
Match Outlook
A few days later, Kohli shared how his unexpected friendship with Djokovic began. He revealed that at first, he thought Djokovic’s Instagram message was from a fake account before realizing it was truly from the tennis star.
‘I connected with Novak in a natural way. I spotted his profile on Instagram and hit the message button, only to discover that he had already sent me a message that I hadn’t opened before,’ Kohli explained in an interview with BCCI.tv.
‘Initially, I was skeptical and thought it might be a fake account. A second look confirmed it was the real deal, and that’s how our conversation started.’
Kohli also highlighted the respect they share, mentioning how Djokovic congratulated him on scoring his landmark 50th ODI century.
‘When I achieved my 50th ODI century, Novak posted a story in celebration and sent me a thoughtful message. There’s a strong mutual admiration between us. It’s wonderful to connect with outstanding global athletes. I hold immense respect for his journey, and his dedication to fitness is something I also value highly. We had plenty to discuss.’
Djokovic is set to commence his Wimbledon 2026 journey on June 29, as he aims for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title. Following a surprising third-round exit at the French Open against João Fonseca, he prepared for the grass-court tournament by securing a victory over Tommy Paul at the Hurlingham Classic, winning a closely contested match 6-3, 6-7, 7-5.
[Experience Wimbledon 2026 live from June 29 – July 12 on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network]