Novak Djokovic reveals his years-long friendship with cricket legend Virat Kohli through texting, despite never meeting in person. Their heartwarming bond at Wimbledon 2025.
The tennis world witnessed a heartwarming moment at Wimbledon 2025 when Serbian legend Novak Djokovic opened up about his unique friendship with Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli. What makes this friendship special isn’t just the mutual respect between two sporting giants, but the fact that they’ve been texting for years without ever meeting face-to-face.
Following Kohli’s praise of Djokovic as a “gladiator” after his intense fourth-round victory over Alex de Minaur, the tennis champion shared touching details about their digital friendship that has captivated fans worldwide.
Table of Contents
Novak Djokovic: The Digital Friendship That Transcends Sports
The revelation came during Djokovic’s interview after his challenging Wimbledon match, where he battled back from a set down to defeat Australia’s Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Djokovic revealed: “Virat Kohli and I have been texting a little bit for a few years, and we never got the chance to meet in person. But it was really a privilege and an honor to listen to him speak nicely about me. And I admire all of his career and achievements and everything he has done.”
This friendship began unexpectedly, with both athletes finding each other through Instagram and gradually building a connection through their shared experiences as elite athletes facing similar pressures and challenges.
The Gladiator Moment: Kohli’s Praise at Wimbledon 2025
Kohli posted about Djokovic’s win on Instagram, calling it a moment of sheer mental strength. “What a win! It was business as usual for the gladiator,” he wrote. Djokovic saw the post and replied with a short and humble message: “Thank you for supporting.”
The interaction became even more special when Virat Kohli was in attendance with his wife Anushka Sharma for the Wimbledon 2025 Round of 16 match between Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur. This marked a significant moment in their friendship, as they finally had the opportunity to meet in person after years of digital communication.
How Their Friendship Started
The origin of their friendship traces back to Instagram, where both athletes discovered their mutual admiration. Kohli revealed that when he tried to get in touch with Djokovic, he found him on Instagram. What started as a simple social media connection evolved into a meaningful friendship built on shared experiences and mutual respect.
Despite never meeting each other in person initially, they became friends on Instagram, with Djokovic noting: “We never got the chance to meet in person, but it was an honour and privilege to listen to him speak nicely about me.”
Career Achievements and Mutual Respect
Novak Djokovic’s Tennis Legacy
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Grand Slam Titles | 24 (Record holder) |
| Wimbledon Titles | 7 |
| World No. 1 Weeks | 400+ weeks |
| ATP Masters 1000 | 40 titles |
| Olympic Medal | Bronze (2008) |
Virat Kohli’s Cricket Achievements
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| International Centuries | 80+ |
| Test Captain | Most successful Indian captain |
| ODI Runs | 13,000+ |
| T20I Runs | 4,000+ |
| Awards | Khel Ratna, Padma Shri |
The Power of Sports Transcending Boundaries
Their friendship represents something beautiful about modern sports – how athletes from different disciplines can connect and support each other across geographical and cultural boundaries. Djokovic even mentioned: “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.”
This shows Djokovic’s genuine interest in understanding Kohli’s sport, demonstrating the depth of their mutual respect and curiosity about each other’s athletic domains.
Recent Interactions and Support
The friendship has been consistently visible through their social media interactions. When Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, Djokovic was among the first to congratulate him, sharing Kohli’s retirement post and writing “Incredible innings @virat.kohli 🙌🏻”.
Kohli has been in constant touch with Djokovic over recent years, discussing sport and exchanging ideas. Kohli even drew parallels between their on-field experiences.
Djokovic’s Wimbledon 2025 Journey
Djokovic’s recent performance at Wimbledon 2025 showcased his resilience as he recovered from a slow start, battling past Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.
The match was particularly meaningful with Kohli in attendance, marking their first in-person meeting after years of digital friendship. The presence of the cricket legend seemed to energize Djokovic, who fought back from a set down to secure his place in the quarter-finals.
The Digital Age of Athletic Friendships
Their relationship exemplifies how modern technology has transformed athletic connections. Through Instagram messages and social media interactions, two of the world’s greatest athletes have built a meaningful friendship that transcends sports, nationality, and geography.
Read More- Baaghi 4: Tiger Shroff Wraps Intense Shoot, Flaunts Abs
FAQs
How long have Novak Djokovic and Virat Kohli been texting?
They have been texting for several years, with Djokovic revealing they’ve been in contact “for a few years” despite never meeting in person initially.
Have Novak Djokovic and Virat Kohli ever met in person?
Yes, they finally met in person at Wimbledon 2025 when Kohli attended Djokovic’s fourth-round match against Alex de Minaur.
What did Virat Kohli call Novak Djokovic?
Kohli called Djokovic a “gladiator” in his Instagram post praising the tennis champion’s comeback victory at Wimbledon 2025.
How did their friendship begin?
Their friendship began through Instagram, where they discovered their mutual admiration and started texting each other.
What did Djokovic say about Kohli’s cricket career?
Djokovic expressed his admiration for Kohli’s career and achievements, calling it a “privilege and honor” to receive praise from the cricket legend.
Impact on Their Sports Communities
The friendship between Djokovic and Kohli has created a bridge between tennis and cricket fans, inspiring athletes across different sports to connect and support each other. Their mutual respect has become a symbol of sportsmanship that transcends competitive boundaries.
Future Prospects
With their recent in-person meeting at Wimbledon 2025, fans are eager to see how this friendship evolves. The possibility of collaborative projects, mutual appearances at each other’s events, or even charity initiatives could further strengthen the bond between the tennis and cricket communities.
Conclusion
The friendship between Novak Djokovic and Virat Kohli represents the beautiful side of modern sports, where mutual respect, digital connectivity, and shared experiences can create meaningful relationships across different disciplines. Their journey from Instagram texts to an in-person meeting at Wimbledon 2025 is a testament to how genuine connections can flourish in the digital age.
As both athletes continue their respective careers, their friendship serves as an inspiration for sports fans worldwide, showing that the values of respect, support, and camaraderie transcend the boundaries of individual sports. The “gladiator” and the cricket legend have proven that champions recognize champions, regardless of the arena they compete in.
Their story reminds us that in an era of intense competition and rivalry, the most beautiful moments often come from unexpected friendships and mutual admiration between sporting greats.
