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In a surprising development that sent shockwaves across the sporting world, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket at the age of 36. The decision comes just ahead of India's much-anticipated tour of England, marking the end of an illustrious red-ball career for one of the game’s greatest modern batters.
While fans and fellow cricketers flooded social media with tributes, what caught everyone’s attention was a special message from tennis legend Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic’s Heartfelt Tribute
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, took to Instagram to congratulate Kohli. Sharing a picture of the Indian star, the Serbian posted a simple yet powerful message:
“Incredible innings @viratkohli.”
Though the two global sports icons have never met in person, their mutual respect for one another has grown steadily over the years, nurtured through text conversations and social media interactions.
Bond Built on Messages, Not Meetings
Interestingly, despite belonging to entirely different sporting worlds and continents apart, Kohli and Djokovic have built a unique bond — one that neither expected to blossom the way it has.
“Virat Kohli and I have been texting a little bit for a few years. We never got the chance to meet in person, but it was an honour and privilege to listen to him speak nicely about me. I admire his career and his achievements. 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,” Djokovic had shared during a Sony Sports interview last year.
Kohli Recalls First Interaction with the Tennis Great
Kohli once shared a humorous anecdote about how their conversation began, revealing that it was Djokovic who had actually messaged him first.
“I got in touch with Novak (Djokovic) very organically. When I saw his profile on Instagram, I pressed the message button, I thought I would just message him. Then I saw his message already on my DM (Direct Message). I had never opened it. It was the first time I had opened my own messages. And he’s messaged me himself. So first I thought let me just check, maybe it’s a fake account. Then I checked again, it was legitimate. Then we got talking. We have been exchanging messages every now and then. I congratulated him for all his amazing achievements,” Kohli said in a chat with BCCI’s media team.
Mutual Respect and Fitness Goals
The admiration between the two isn’t one-sided. Kohli revealed how Djokovic congratulated him when he notched his 50th ODI century, further strengthening their digital camaraderie.
“When I got 50th ODI Century recently, Novak Djokovic put out a story (on Instagram), and sent me a nice message as well so there is mutual admiration and respect – really nice to connect with global athletes who are excelling at a high level. I have a lot of respect for him and his journey… his passion for fitness is something I dearly follow myself. So there was a lot to connect on,” Kohli added.
A Retirement That Sparked Global Reverence
Kohli's decision to walk away from Test cricket may have been unexpected, but the response it evoked from international athletes — especially someone like Djokovic — speaks volumes about his impact beyond cricket. As tributes pour in from across disciplines, Kohli’s legacy as not just a cricketing great but a global sporting icon is now firmly etched in history.
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