Virat Kohli says tennis players regularly handle pressure comparable to India-Pakistan World Cup games

Drawing parallels between on-field stress conditions in two vastly totally different video games, former India captain Virat Kohli says what tennis gamers endure week after week can solely be in comparison with the much less frequent “intimidation and stress” that an Indian cricketer faces in World Cup knockouts and clashes in opposition to arch foes Pakistan.

Kohli, who has retired from T20 Internationals and Checks, made the comparability after witnessing Wimbledon motion with actor spouse Anushka Sharma on Monday (July 7, 2025). He was in dialog with tennis legend Vijay Amritraj through the day’s proceedings.

“I believe the expertise (in stress conditions) could be related. However the intimidation issue and the stress that will replicate for us in a World Cup sport, a World Cup match between India and Pakistan or a semifinal or a remaining of the World Cup, your legs are shivering due to sheer stress,” Kohli stated through the interview telecast on ‘Star Sports activities’.

“However these gamers is likely to be dealing with that from the quarterfinal onwards to the ultimate, which I believe is a whole lot of stress to deal with. I’ve a whole lot of respect for tennis gamers for taking part in with that composure and sustaining that degree of health and psychological toughness,” added the famous person, who spends appreciable time in London throughout his breaks from the sport.

One of many all time greats in cricket, retired lately from the red-ball format with 9230 runs from 123 matches that contained 30 a whole lot. Kohli stated cricketers undergo their very own challenges on discipline due to the ever-evolving nature of the game.

“Completely different sports activities have totally different challenges. In cricket, one of many challenges is that it’s a must to look forward to a protracted interval, you warm-up within the morning and then you definately come again and wait within the dressing room, as you do not know when you’re going to bat,” he stated.

“Sitting there, studying the sport, the scenario adjustments so drastically. Right here (in tennis) in all probability you’ve got set circumstances, you realize what you might be strolling into,” he added.

Kohli additionally feels that cricket provides much less possibilities to stage a comeback into the match than tennis.

“Yet one more problem relating to my expertise in cricket — batting — is that you’ve got just one probability. You do not have a lot probability to make a comeback, you make one mistake and also you clap for the remainder of the day.

“However these guys is likely to be down two units and a break, however nonetheless can come again and win,” he stated.

The 36-year-old felt that taking part in within the Wimbledon Centre Court docket could be thought of a extra intimidating expertise than being at a cricket stadium due to the gang’s proximity to the athletes.

“There are such superb stadiums to play cricket on the planet, and there’s a lot of stress as a result of there are such a lot of folks within the stadium. However I’d say it was not as intimidating because the Centre Court docket due to the space the persons are sitting from you,” he defined.

“Once we are batting on the pitch, the followers are too distant, so you will get misplaced in your personal house. You do not hear the feedback, you do not hear the cheers and boos…,” he stated.

“However yeah, if I used to be there, and the gang was so near me then that might have been intimidating for me,” he added.

Kohli bats for Djokovic

Kohli hoped that Serbian legend Novak Djokovic wins this yr’s Wimbledon for a document twenty fifth Grand Slam.

Screengrab of Novak Djokovic thanking Virat Kohli for supporting him through the Wimbledon sport on July 7, 2025
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“I’ve been in contact with Novak (Djokovic) for some time now. We now have exchanged a number of messages and he has been gracious and type to remain in contact.”

Kohli additionally stated his dream remaining can be between Djokovic and Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion right here.

“I would like Carlos (Alcaraz) and Novak within the remaining and possibly Novak win the title as a result of that will be large for him at this stage of his profession, and the entire dialog of being the best of all time, most variety of Grand Slams and he deserves it,” he signed off.