Novak Djokovic calls Virat Kohli a friend, says he started watching cricket because of him

April 21, 2026

New Delhi: Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic spoke openly about his friendship with Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli.

He said that he started watching cricket because of Kohli and expressed his desire to come to India in the future to play tennis and cricket with him.

Kohli supported at Wimbledon

Last year, on July 7th, at Wimbledon 2025, Kohli attended Djokovic’s match with his wife Anushka Sharma.

Djokovic defeated Alex de Minaur in this match, after which Kohli praised him profusely on social media.

Djokovic expresses respect

During the Laureus World Sports Awards, Djokovic said, “Virat is my friend and I respect him a lot. To be honest, he’s the reason I started following cricket.”

He also said that when he comes to India, he wants to work with Kohli to create a fun mix of tennis and cricket.

A special message for Indian fans

Djokovic expressed his gratitude to the Indian fans, saying that he has received a lot of love and respect over the years.

He said that he wants to visit India soon and play a match or organize an event. “I’ve been wanting to come to India for a long time… I feel very close to the Indian people,” he said.