Mumbai : Indian cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Shubman Gill were among the distinguished guests at Wimbledon on Friday, watching the men’s singles semi-final between Alexander Zverev and Arthur Fery from the prestigious Royal Box at Centre Court. The two cricketers joined several sporting stars as Zverev defeated Fery in straight sets to book his maiden Wimbledon final. A long-time tennis enthusiast, Tendulkar continued his tradition of attending the Championships at SW19.
The Royal Box also featured West Indies batting legend Brian Lara, with Tendulkar and Lara sharing Centre Court years after their memorable on-field rivalry and later appearances together in exhibition matches. Gill’s presence drew attention as the India captain gears up for a key assignment with the national team. The star-studded guest list also included Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe, highlighting Wimbledon’s tradition of attracting leading personalities from across the sporting world.
For Gill, the visit to Wimbledon comes ahead of India’s three-match ODI series against England, which begins on July 14, followed by matches on July 16 and July 19. Gill has not played a T20I for India since being left out of the squad ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup despite serving as vice-captain. Under new captain Shreyas Iyer, India have struggled on their tour of the United Kingdom, losing the T20I series 2-0 to Ireland before falling 3-0 behind in the ongoing five-match T20I series against England.
The Wimbledon Royal Box is only for invitees, and it’s a luxury hospitality experience. There are premium padded seatings with the best views of Centre Court, and VIP access to the adjacent clubhouse for pre-match lunch, tea, and drinks. An invitation from the Chair of the All England Club (AELTC) is sent to the celebrities for a particular match. The invited guests bypass the ticket purchasing process and receive an all-inclusive VIP pass for the whole day. Also, the guests enjoy top-tier culinary offerings, a free bar and goody bags as well.
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