The Kohli effect: Novak Djokovic reveals why Virat is the reason he started following cricket

Madrid: Tennis great Novak Djokovic lauded his friendship with Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli on Monday, identifying the former captain as the primary inspiration behind his newfound interest in the sport of cricket.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Times Now during the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Djokovic characterised their relationship as one built on profound mutual respect. The 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed that the two athletes maintain regular contact and expressed a strong desire to collaborate with Kohli during a future trip to India.

"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," Djokovic said. "Hopefully when I come... to India, hopefully he can join, and then we could do a little bit of tennis, a little bit of cricket, and have fun and just spread, you know, positive, good vibes with people and celebrate sport."

A Predicted Visit to India

The Serbian star, who was a co-host for the 2026 Laureus gala, issued a heartfelt message to his substantial fan base in India. Djokovic indicated that a visit to the subcontinent has felt like a "calling" for several years and promised to make the journey a reality in the near future.

"See you very soon in India because I need to go to India," he stated. "I really hope that I'll be able to come to India and do an event, play a match, or whatever it is. I really wish for that because I feel very close to Indian people."

Future Outlook and Rivalries

Addressing his professional future, the 38-year-old Djokovic confirmed his intention to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Having secured a gold medal for Serbia previously, he noted that "there's no greater honour" than representing his nation on the Olympic stage.

When asked about the current landscape of men's tennis, Djokovic acknowledged the emerging rivalry between younger stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz—the latter of whom was named the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year during the ceremony. However, the Serb maintained that the era of the "Big Three" remains the pinnacle of the sport for him personally.

"I think the rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz is also great, unique in its own way," Djokovic concluded. "But for me, let's say the big three, it always remains the greatest."