‘Incredible innings’: Novak Djokovic sends impactful two-word message on Virat Kohli retirement from Test cricket

New Delhi: Ever since Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, there’s been a flood of love and admiration from fans and fellow athletes alike. Joining the chorus of praise, Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic kept it simple yet powerful. The 24-time Grand Slam champion reshared Virat’s retirement post on Instagram and summed up his respect in just two words, “Incredible innings.”

What many might not know is that Virat Kohli and Novak Djokovic share a warm bond off the field. The two icons have spoken about exchanging texts over the years, a quiet friendship built on mutual respect and admiration for each other’s dedication and discipline.

“I got in touch with Novak very organically. I was just looking at his Instagram profile once and happened to press his ‘Message’ button. I thought I would say him ‘Hello, maybe.’ Then I saw a message from him on my DM already. I never saw it myself. The first time I saw my own messages, I saw that he had messaged me himself. Then I was like, let us check if it is a fake account or not. But then I checked it, and it was legitimate. Then we started talking, exchanging messages every now and then. I would congratulate him on all of his fantastic achievements,” Virat said in an interview with BCCI.

Virat Kohli shared that when he scored his 50th ODI century in last year’s ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, Djokovic sent him a heartfelt message and even posted a story congratulating him. Earlier today, the ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar also joined the wave of tributes, congratulating Kohli for his remarkable Test career. Kohli’s wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, also expressed her pride and love, writing a touching note to celebrate her husband’s incredible achievement.

“They’ll talk about the records and the milestones — but I’ll remember the tears you never showed, the battles no one saw, and the unwavering love you gave this format of the game. I know how much all this took from you. After every Test series, you came back a little wiser, a little humbler — and watching you evolve through it all has been a privilege. Somehow, I always imagined you’d retire international cricket in whites — But you’ve always followed your heart, and so I just want to say my love, you’ve earned every bit of this goodbye,” she wrote in her post.

For those who might not be familiar, Virat Kohli has amassed 9,230 runs in his remarkable 123-match Test career.

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