Hope to meet him: Novak Djokovic met Virat Kohli during his visit to India

Two sports icons from different disciplines could finally meet in their first face-to-face meeting. Novak Djokovic has revealed plans to visit India soon and hopes to meet former India captain Virat Kohli, with the Serb saying he would like to play both tennis and cricket with the batsman.

Speaking on the sidelines of Wimbledon 2026, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said he and Kohli have stayed in touch over the years through messages and social media despite never having met in person.

The friendship between Djokovic and Kohli has captivated fans across the sporting world, with the two athletes often expressing admiration for each other’s achievements and longevity at the highest level.

“We haven’t met in person but we’ve texted each other, so we’ve been in touch over the last couple of years, watching each other, supporting each other and admiring each other’s careers,” Djokovic told Star Sports, the official broadcaster for Wimbledon 2026.

“I hope to get a chance to meet him in person, play tennis and cricket, that would be nice. I’m also planning to come to India soon, so maybe we can connect there,” he added.

The two sporting greats first publicly acknowledged their friendship during the Australian Open in January 2024, when Djokovic revealed they had been messaging each other for several years. Kohli later shared that he initially assumed the message was from a fake Instagram account before realizing it had actually come from the Serbian legend. Since then, the pair have continued to publicly support each other despite never having met.

DJOKOVIC BEGINS SEARCH FOR HISTORIC 25TH SLAM

Djokovic will begin his Wimbledon 2026 campaign on June 29 as he seeks a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. The Serb has not played a competitive match since his surprise third-round exit to Joao Fonseca at the French Open, but fine-tuned his build-up with a 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 exhibition win over Tommy Paul at the Hurlingham Classic.

The 39-year-old enters Wimbledon looking to add another chapter to his illustrious career and will once again be among the favorites to lift the trophy at the All England Club.

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Published on:

28 Jun 2026 18:26 IST