Novak Djokovic Credits Virat Kohli For His ‘Love of Cricket’

Novak Djokovic credits Virat Kohli for introducing him to cricket, as the tennis legend hopes to meet the RCB star during a future visit to India.

Tennis icon Novak Djokovic has opened up about his admiration for Virat Kohli, revealing that the Indian superstar played a key role in sparking his interest in cricket. The 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted that he was not a follower of the sport until he got to know Kohli.

“Yes, Virat is a friend and someone I, of course, respect and admire. He’s actually, to be honest, the reason why I started following cricket. I hadn’t followed it before, but through him, I started following it more. We keep in touch, and hopefully, when I come, I don’t want to say if, but when I come to India, hopefully, he can join me. We could do a little bit of tennis and a little bit of cricket, have fun, and just spread positive, good vibes while celebrating sport,” Djokovic said on Times Now ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026.

Laureus Legacy and Cricket’s Absence

Djokovic’s comments came in the build-up to the prestigious awards, where he holds an illustrious record. The Serbian great has won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year five times, making him one of the most decorated athletes in the event’s history since its inception in 2000.

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Interestingly, despite cricket’s massive global following, no cricketer has received a nomination, let alone won the honour, over the past 26 years. This highlights the sport’s ongoing push for greater global recognition on multi-sport platforms.

Kohli’s Stellar IPL 2026 Campaign Continues

Meanwhile, Kohli continues to dominate headlines with his performances in Indian Premier League 2026. Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the former India captain has been in fine form, scoring 247 runs from six innings at an average of 49.40 and an impressive strike rate of 157.32, his best in IPL history.

He currently sits among the top run-scorers of the season, trailing only Heinrich Klaasen and Shubman Gill. Kohli is set to feature next against the Gujarat Titans on April 24 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, as RCB aim to defend their IPL crown.