London: Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic has expressed his admiration for Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli, revealing that he would love to play cricket and tennis with the former India captain during his planned visit to India.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion shared his respect for Kohli’s achievements and global popularity, saying he hopes the Indian cricket icon can host him and introduce him to the country. Djokovic also admitted that he has been learning about cricket over the last decade and a half, but still needs to improve his skills with the bat.

Djokovic shares admiration for Kohli

Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, spoke warmly about his connection with Kohli and his desire to meet the Indian star in his home country.

“I would love to play some cricket and tennis with Virat Kohli. I am planning to visit India in the near future, and we have been communicating about it. I know Virat is a global star, but especially in India, he is incredible,” Djokovic said.

The Serbian added that he would be honoured to have Kohli as his guide during his India visit.

“I would love for him to be my host and show me around. I have a lot of respect for him and for Indian cricket,” he added.

Djokovic’s comments highlight the growing bond between global sporting icons from different disciplines. Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of the modern era, has built a massive fan following worldwide, similar to Djokovic’s influence in tennis.

Tennis star interested in cricket

Although cricket is not a major sport in Serbia, Djokovic explained that his exposure to the game increased through members of his team from cricket-loving countries.

“Cricket is not big in Serbia, where I come from. But some of the people in my team are British, and they love cricket. So I have been learning about the game over the last 10 to 15 years,” Djokovic said.

The tennis great jokingly admitted that he still has plenty to learn about batting and suggested that Kohli could help him improve his technique.

“I still need to work on my cricketing skills. Maybe Virat can help me with my technique and bat swing. But seriously, I have great respect and admiration for him,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic’s interest in cricket is not new, as he has often spoken about his passion for different sports and his appreciation for athletes who maintain excellence at the highest level.

Kohli’s Wimbledon connection with Djokovic

The relationship between Djokovic and Kohli gained attention when the Indian cricketer attended Wimbledon last year with his wife and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma.

Kohli watched Djokovic’s Round of 16 match against Australia’s Alex de Minaur and later shared his admiration for the Serbian’s performance on social media.

“What a match. It was business as usual for the gladiator,” Kohli wrote while praising Djokovic.

The interaction between the two sporting icons attracted significant attention from fans, who have admired their dedication, discipline and longevity in their respective careers.

Both Kohli and Djokovic have frequently been praised for their fitness standards and ability to compete at the highest level despite facing younger generations of athletes.

Djokovic continues Wimbledon record chase

While discussing his admiration for Kohli, Djokovic was also focused on his own historic Wimbledon campaign.

The Serbian recently added another milestone to his remarkable career by becoming the most successful men’s singles player in Wimbledon history. He surpassed Roger Federer’s record of 105 men’s singles victories at the tournament after defeating Roman Safiullin in the fourth round.

Djokovic won the match 7-6(6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reach his ninth consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final and 17th overall at the tournament.

Reflecting on Wimbledon’s importance in his career, Djokovic said the tournament was the one he dreamed of winning as a child.

“A lot of my legacy is built on what I have achieved here at Wimbledon. This was the tournament I dreamed of winning as a child,” Djokovic said.

He added that the atmosphere and history of Wimbledon have always inspired him to produce his best tennis.

Djokovic eyes another Wimbledon title

Djokovic continues his pursuit of another Wimbledon crown as he aims to add to his record-equalling 24 Grand Slam titles. The Serbian’s performances at the All England Club have remained exceptional, with seven Wimbledon titles already to his name.

His next challenge came against Felix Auger-Aliassime or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, with a potential semi-final meeting against defending champion and world number one Jannik Sinner awaiting him.

Conclusion

Novak Djokovic’s wish to play cricket with Virat Kohli reflects the mutual respect between two of the biggest sporting figures in the world. While Djokovic continues his historic Wimbledon journey, his planned India visit could provide fans with a memorable meeting between two global icons.