Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic has Kohli rallying behind him but Rishabh Pant flips the script

The Big 3 has a lone star carrying the unmatched legacy on the ATP Tour as Novak Djokovic strives to claim a record 25th Grand Slam. The 38-year-old is currently putting out his best at the coveted Wimbledon, bidding for his eighth grass-court Slam. It's a rare but enthralling sight when stars of different sports collide and support each other. Wimbledon has long been the main attraction for celebrities from different realms around the world. Up till now, several cricket stars including Joe Root, James Anderson, and Brian Lara have been spotted at the iconic Centre Court. However, Wimbledon 2025 truly lit up when Indian stars Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant showed up at the Championships.

Virat Kohli backs Novak Djokovic to pick up the Wimbledon 2025 title

Former Indian captain and modern-day legend Virat Kohli recently showed up at Centre Court along with his wife, the Bollywood star Anushka Sharma. The family is said to have permanently shifted to London as Kohli remains active only in ODIs following his recent Test retirement. While Wimbledon is faring in the same arena, it was not anticipated for Kohli to show up, as the couple likes to maintain a low profile. However, the actor-cricketer pair caught up with the Wimbledon 2025 action as they attended the fourth-round match between Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur.

The Round of 16 match proved to be a thrilling affair. The young Australian seed made Djokovic hustle hard for a win at Centre Court. The 38-year-old came back after dropping a set to claim the match 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The victory at Centre Court meant that Djokovic moved to the quarterfinals, setting up his clash against Flavio Cobolli. Meanwhile, the tussle attracted major stars from across the world as the King of Grass, Roger Federer, attended the match with his wife Mirka. On the cricketing front, Joe Root and James Anderson were in attendance before a picture confirmed that Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma also caught the action at Centre Court.

Following the conclusion of the match, Kohli put up a story on Instagram, lauding the 38-year-old for his impressive win against de Minaur. Djokovic later reposted the story, thanking the Indian star. Earlier, Djokovic had wished Kohli after the cricketer announced his Test retirement in May this year. The champions of their respective sports, Djokovic and Kohli have often talked about exchanging texts on social media.

Moreover, following the match at Centre Court, Virat Kohli was asked about who he is backing to pick the Wimbledon 2025 title. Without missing a beat, Kohli took Djokovic's name. The Indian cricketer predicted a final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic but flipped the script in favor of the Serbian this time. Alcaraz, also in the quarterfinals, is a two-time defending champion and picked the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon titles by beating Nole. Now, Djokovic has the task to overcome his much-younger nemesis if he gets in his way of the 25th Grand Slam title.

Rishabh Pant rates Carlos Alcaraz above Novak Djokovic in his pick for the Wimbledon title

A day after Kohli's appearance at Centre Court, Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant also attended Wimbledon. Currently with the team in the India tour of England, Pant joined the proceedings after claiming a massive win in the second India vs England Test at Edgbaston. However, unlike Kohli, Pant named Alcaraz as his pick for the Wimbledon 2025 title. The Spidey of Indian cricket named Federer as his favorite tennis star while picking Alcaraz as his choice for the Grand Slam win this year. Moving ahead, Djokovic finally earned a spot in Pant's list as the flamboyant batsman named the Serbian as the player who could emulate his out-of-the-box cricketing shots.

“I think I have to support Alcaraz. I think he's going to win the Wimbledon. That's my prediction. Rest, whoever plays the best tennis eventually is going to win. I think Djokovic definitely can pull it off (my shots) for sure,” said Pant.

Opening up further in the tennis discussion, Pant explained that he finds Nick Kyrgios as the one star who has the same charisma as Pant himself. The 27-year-old talked about Kyrgios playing on his terms and enjoying the game as some aspects for why he enjoys watching the Australian star in action on the court.

“This is my first time here. It feels great to be here. I have lots. When we started, I think Roger Federer, I used to love his backhand, and that was something which always inspired me. But at the same time, the way sport is evolving, Djokovic has been amazing. I think my favourite two now are Sinner and Alcaraz. I think these two are all-time favorite for me right now. I think Nick Kyrgios (has same charisma as Pant), I think he's one guy I really used to enjoy watching because the way he plays, he enjoys his game, that is something I always look forward to,” he added.