WATCH: Virat Kohli says tennis players face as much pressure as cricketers in 'India vs Pakistan' clash

India.com

5 days ago

Virat Kohli attends Wimbledon 2025 in London. (Source: X)
Former India captain Virat Kohli is enjoying a quiet summed in England. After announcing his retirement from Test cricket in May this year, Kohli has been sitting on the sidelines while the Indian cricketers face off against England in a five-match Test series for the 'Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy'.
Kohli along with wife Anushka Sharma and children Vamika and Akaay are currently in London since the end of the IPL 2025 season. Kohli's RCB ended a 18-year wait to finally win the IPL title this year.
The RCB batter turned up at Wimbledon on Monday along with his Bollywood star wife Anushka Sharma to Novak Djokovic's Round of 16 match on the Centre Court against Australia's Alex de Minnaur. After the match Kohli spoke to Star Sports expert commentator and legendary Indian tennis player Vijay Amritraj.
During the chat, Kohli said that tennis players face as much pressure in every single game what cricketers go through in a India vs Pakistan contest.
'I think the experience (in pressure situations) can be similar. But the intimidation factor and the pressure that would replicate for us in a World Cup game, a World Cup match between India and Pakistan or a semifinal or a final of the World Cup, your legs are shivering because of sheer pressure,' Kohli said during the interview telecast on 'Star Sports'.
'But these players might be facing that from the quarterfinal onwards to the final, which I think is a lot of pressure to handle. I have a lot of respect for tennis players for playing with that composure and maintaining that level of fitness and mental toughness,' said Kohli, who retired from Test cricket after 123 games. WATCH Virat Kohli's interview with Vijay Amritraj HERE…
Virat Kohli's full interview at Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/INDvfi6ZSk
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Kohli recently from the red-ball format with 9230 runs from 123 matches with 30 hundreds. Kohli said cricketers go through their own challenges on field because of the ever-evolving nature of the sport.
'Different sports have different challenges. In cricket, one of the challenges is that you have to wait for a long period, you warm-up in the morning and then you come back and wait in the dressing room, as you don't know when you are going to bat,' he said.
'Sitting there, reading the game, the situation changes so drastically. Here (in tennis) probably you have set conditions, you know what you are walking into,' he added.
Cricket offers less chances of a 'comeback', says Virat Kohli
Former India skipper also feels that cricket offers less chances to stage a comeback into the match than tennis. 'One more challenge regarding my skills in cricket – batting – is that you have got only one chance. You don't have much chance to make a comeback, you make one mistake and you clap for the rest of the day. But these guys might be down two sets and a break, but still can come back and win,' he said. Virat Kohli backs Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon 2025
Kohli is hoping that Serbian legend Novak Djokovic wins Wimbledon 2025 to complete a record 25th Grand Slam.
'I have been in touch with Novak (Djokovic) for a while now. We have exchanged a few messages and he has been gracious and kind to stay in touch.'
Kohli also said his dream final would be between Djokovic and Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion. 'I want Carlos (Alcaraz) and Novak in the final and probably Novak win the title because that would be tremendous for him at this stage of his career, and the whole conversation of being the greatest of all time, maximum number of Grand Slams and he deserves it,' he added.