Novak Djokovic has shared an interesting story from IPL 2026. He revealed that Virat Kohli is the reason he started following cricket.
Djokovic said he respects Kohli a lot and considers him a friend. He also mentioned that Kohli’s passion and performance made him curious about the sport. Because of that, he began watching cricket, especially during the IPL season.
He also added that if he visits India, he would love to spend time with Kohli and even play both tennis and cricket together for fun.
Kohli’s strong IPL 2026 performance for RCB
Kohli is in excellent form this season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His consistent batting has helped the team stay near the top of the points table.
Here are his key stats from IPL 2026:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Runs | 247 |
| Innings | 6 |
| Average | 49.40 |
| Strike Rate | 157.32 |
| 50s | 2 |
| Best Score | 69* |
| Team Position | 2nd |
| Matches Won | 4 out of 5 |
Kohli is currently among the top run-scorers in the tournament and is playing a major role in RCB’s strong campaign.
Djokovic excited about visiting India
2026 Laureus World Sports Awards
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 20, 2026
Virat Kohli is a friend; he is someone I respect and admire. He is the reason why I started following cricket…: Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) speaks to @karishmasingh22 pic.twitter.com/NBjgLrvZH0
Djokovic also spoke about his wish to visit India soon. He said he has a lot of respect and love for Indian fans.
He is interested in creating a special event where tennis and cricket can come together. According to him, such an event could be fun and also bring fans of both sports closer.
However, he mentioned that his busy tennis schedule makes travel planning difficult, but he hopes to visit India in the near future.
Fans react to Djokovic–Kohli connection
Fans on social media were excited to see this unexpected connection between two global sports stars.
- Many people were surprised to see a Serbian tennis legend following cricket
- Some fans joked about a future match where Djokovic and Kohli play together
- Others welcomed Djokovic as a new cricket fan
- Several posts highlighted how Kohli’s influence is growing worldwide
Also See : KKR Coaching Update: Abhishek Nayar Under Pressure, Brendon McCullum Linked as Possible Future Coach
Final thoughts
This moment shows how sports can connect people across different countries and games. Kohli’s performance in IPL 2026 has not only helped RCB but also attracted attention from global icons like Djokovic.
At the same time, Djokovic’s interest in cricket and his plan to visit India has added excitement among fans. Now, everyone will be waiting to see if this cross-sport moment turns into a real-life collaboration.
