The tennis icon made a statement that sparked the interest of fans in the sports world Novak Djokovic talked about his unexpected connection with cricket. Hailed as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, the 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted that his interest in the sport was ignited by none other than India’s cricket superstar. Virat Kohli.
The driving force behind Novak Djokovic’s cricket interests
Speaking at the event Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 In Madrid, Djokovic said before his friendship with Kohli, cricket was never on his radar. The Serbian legend credited the former India captain as the sole reason for his interest in the game.
“Virat is a friend – someone I respect and admire. He is the reason I started watching cricket, so through him I started watching it more,” Djokovic said during an interaction with Times Now.
He further explained that his connection with cricket gradually grew through conversations with Kohli. What started as a personal connection soon turned into genuine interest, with Djokovic now focused on the sport and its developments.
“We keep in touch and hopefully when I come to India he can join and then we can do a bit of tennis, a bit of cricket – just spreading positivity with people and celebrating sport,” Djokovic added.
Friendship built on mutual respect
The bond between Djokovic and Kohli goes far beyond casual admiration. Over the years, the two global icons have forged a strong bond, keeping in touch regularly and celebrating each other’s achievements. Kohli once revealed that their friendship started organically through social media when both athletes tried to connect through Instagram at the same time. This first interaction laid the foundation for a unique cross-sport friendship.
Their mutual respect is based on shared values ​​- elite fitness, discipline and mental toughness. Both athletes are known for pushing the limits of physical excellence and maintaining peak performance levels for over a decade. Djokovic also publicly acknowledged Kohli’s milestones, notably congratulating him after his historic 50th ODI century, highlighting the genuine admiration between the two.
From admiration to action plans in India
Djokovic’s interest in cricket is no longer limited to watching from afar. The tennis legend expressed his desire to visit India in the near future and perhaps share the field with Kohli.
He even joked about practicing his cricket skills in advance to avoid any embarrassment, indicating his keenness to actively pursue the sport. More interestingly, Djokovic came up with the idea of ​​a ‘tennis-meets-cricket’ collaborative event where both athletes could showcase their talents and promote positivity through sport.
Such an event, if realized, would bring together two major fan bases and celebrate the universal appeal of athletic excellence.
Although Djokovic is best known for his dominance on the tennis court, he has already shown glimpses of his interest in cricket. During an exhibition appearance with the Australian cricketer Steve Smith In Melbourne, Djokovic surprised fans by picking up the bat and even clearing the boundary ropes with an impressive forehand. The moment, while heartwarming, pointed to his natural athletic ability and willingness to take on new sporting challenges.
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