Novak Djokovic has revealed he hopes a planned visit to India will finally give him the opportunity to meet Virat Kohli in person after years of staying in touch through messages. Speaking on the sidelines of Wimbledon 2026 to Star Sports, the Serbian great said he wants to take a friendship built across two different sports beyond the digital world.
“We have not met in person, but we’ve texted, so we’ve been in touch for the last few years, following each other, supporting each other, and admiring each other’s careers. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to meet him in person, play some tennis and some cricket, it would be nice. I’m also planning to come to India soon, so maybe that’s where we get to link up,” Djokovic said.
The comments offer a fresh insight into a relationship that has quietly developed between two of the most recognisable athletes of their generation. Despite dominating their respective sports for well over a decade, Djokovic and Kohli have never shared the same stage, with their interactions instead taking place through private conversations and public messages of support.
A connection built long before Wimbledon
Djokovic first spoke publicly about his friendship with Kohli during the Australian Open in January 2024, when he told Sony Sports that the pair had been in touch for several years despite never meeting in person.
“Virat Kohli and I have been texting a little bit for a few years. We never got the chance to meet in person, but it was an honour and privilege to listen to him speak nicely about me,” Djokovic said.
The tennis legend also explained that his admiration extended beyond Kohli’s achievements on the field, while joking that he still had work to do before testing himself in India’s most popular sport.
“I admire his career and his achievements. I started to play cricket. I’m not very good at it. I have a task to perfect my cricket skills before I get to India so that I don’t embarrass myself when I am there,” he added.
Kohli explained how the friendship began
Kohli later offered his own perspective on the relationship while speaking to BCCI.tv, revealing that the first interaction came through Instagram in unexpected circumstances.
“I got in touch with Novak very organically. When I saw his profile on Instagram, I pressed the message button. Then I saw his message already in my DM. I had never opened it,” Kohli said.
The former India Captain admitted he initially struggled to believe the message had genuinely come from Djokovic before the two eventually began talking.
“First I thought maybe it’s a fake account. Then I checked again, and it was legitimate. That’s how we got talking,” he added.
Mutual respect between two sporting icons
The friendship has continued to grow alongside two remarkable careers. Kohli remains one of cricket’s most decorated batters, having scored more than 14,000 ODI runs at an average of 58.71. He retired from Test cricket after scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 and also called time on his T20 international career with 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69. Across all international formats, he has amassed 85 centuries, second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100.
Reflecting on the bond between the pair, Kohli said it had been shaped by a shared appreciation for excellence and professionalism across different sports.
“When I got my 50th ODI century, Novak Djokovic put out a story and sent me a nice message as well. There is mutual admiration and respect. It’s really nice to connect with global athletes who are excelling at the highest level. I have a lot of respect for him and his journey. His passion for fitness is something I closely follow myself. There was a lot for us to connect on,” Kohli said.
For now, Djokovic’s immediate focus remains Wimbledon, where he has already opened his campaign with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Y.B. Wu as he continues his pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title. If his planned visit to India goes ahead, however, it could finally bring together two global sporting greats whose friendship has until now existed almost entirely through messages and mutual admiration.
