Friendship Day: Sachin-Sourav to Smriti-Jemimah, five best friend duos in sports

Friendship Day 2023 The world of sports is filled with onfield rivalries and competition between players From playing against each other in different teams to competing for a spot in the same team the element of contesting is inevitable in this domainHowever it is also home to some heartwarming friendships that have found a place both in and off the fieldOn the occasion of Friendship Day midday takes a look at five of these special bonds that have stood the test of time and competitionSachin Tendulkar and Sourav GangulySachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly Pic AFPSachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly who hold the record for highest partnership runs for India are great friends both on and off the field The lsquoGod of Cricketrsquo and lsquoGod of the Offsidersquo share a bond built on mutual respect which has reflected on several occasions They met at a junior camp and have been friends for a long time Ganguly had appreciated Sachin for advising him to open in ODIs which was a significant step in his career He had also revealed in an interview that Sachin helped him tape his bat which had creaked during his debut Test innings at Lordrsquos Their careers are full of such instances where friendship took centre stageAlso Read They came they played they conqueredVirat Kohli and AB de VilliersAB de Villiers and Virat Kohli Pic AFPThis is one of those friendships that blossomed despite the two players being in opposite teams competing against each other in international competitions The bond that Indiarsquos Virat Kohli and South Africarsquos AB de Villiers share can be attributed to their time together at Royal Challengers Bangalore RCB playing in the Indian Premier League IPL The two built a formidable batting partnership and an equally strong friendship Both the players have generously showered each other with praises on several occasions and expressed that their friendship extends beyond cricketSmriti Mandhana and Jemimah RodriguesSmriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues Pic Getty ImagesTwo of the finest players in the Indian womenrsquos cricket team currently Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues share a sisterlike bond in real life They have been friends since Jemimah joined the Indian team She has stated multiple times that Smriti is a mentor and elder sister to her The bond that the two share is also reflected in various pictures and videos shared on social mediaSania Mirza and Rohan BopannaSania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna Pic AFPThe star tennis mixeddoubles pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna share a strong camaraderie Rohan was Saniarsquos firstever mixed doubles partner when she was 14 and also her last when she retired during the Australia Open in January earlier this year She stated that he is her best friend and she couldnrsquot think of a better person to finish her career with The two have won many matches togetherRoger Federer and Rafael NadalRoger Federer and Rafael Nadal Pic APThe fierce onfield rivalry that gripped the tennis world for a decade blossomed into a sweet friendship off the field Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have mutual respect for each other a sentiment that was clearly reflected when Federer bid adieu to the sport and Nadal wept alongside him It was a scene etched in the hearts of tennis fans forever They have been integral parts of each otherrsquos career Federer had even made an appearance at the inauguration of Nadalrsquos academy in 2016 The lsquoFedalrsquo rivalry is sometimes termed as the friendliest tennis rivalry