Sachin Tendulkar and Shubman Gill steal spotlight in Wimbledon Royal Box

Wimbledon welcomed another touch of cricket royalty on Friday as Indian great Sachin Tendulkar and India captain Shubman Gill watched Alexander Zverev take on Arthur Fery in the first men's singles semi-final from the iconic Royal Box. While Tendulkar is a familiar face at the All England Club, it marked Gill's first experience of watching a Wimbledon match from one of the sport's most exclusive seats.

The two Indian stars were among a host of sporting celebrities who gathered on Centre Court as Zverev ended Fery's remarkable run with a straight-sets victory to book his maiden Wimbledon final.

Tendulkar, who has often spoken about his admiration for tennis, once again returned to SW19, continuing a tradition that has seen him attend several editions of the Championships over the years.

Gill, meanwhile, enjoyed a brief break before returning to cricketing duties later this month.

CRICKET'S BIG NAMES LIGHT UP CENTRE COURT

The Royal Box featured an impressive mix of sporting icons throughout the afternoon.

Tendulkar was joined by fellow batting legend Brian Lara, rekindling memories of one of cricket's greatest rivalries before the pair later became teammates in several exhibition and charity matches.

Gill's presence also attracted attention, with the India skipper taking in the action just days before he returns to lead the national side in the ODI series against England.

The distinguished guest list extended beyond cricket.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was also in attendance, while Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe watched proceedings from Centre Court as Wimbledon once again brought together stars from across the sporting world.

GILL SET FOR ODI RETURN

For Gill, Wimbledon offered a welcome breather before a crucial assignment with India.

The 25-year-old will captain the Men in Blue in the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, beginning on July 14, followed by matches on July 16 and July 19.

Gill has not featured for India in T20 internationals since being left out of the squad before the 2026 T20 World Cup despite serving as vice-captain. Under new skipper Shreyas Iyer, India have endured a difficult tour of the United Kingdom, suffering a surprise 2-0 series defeat to Ireland before slipping to a 3-0 deficit in the ongoing five-match T20I series against England.

The ODI series will now offer Gill and India an opportunity to reset after a disappointing stretch.

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