NEW DELHI: India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has made an interesting comparison between tennis and cricket, saying that Carlos Alcaraz’s signature drop shot reminds him of his own signature cricket stroke – the short-arm jab.Fresh from his visit to Wimbledon 2026, Gill said both shots share the same qualities of being fast, deceptive and highly effective. “The drop shot that Alcaraz plays reminds me of the short-arm jab in cricket. I play that shot too, it’s my signature shot. Fast, deceptive and very effective,” Gill said while speaking on JioStar.Gill made these statements after attending the Wimbledon Championships as a guest at the prestigious Royal Box. The 26-year-old became the fourth Indian cricket captain to receive this honour, joining Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.His visit also created a stir on social media after a video of him chatting with Roger Federer went viral. Gill was also seen watching the action alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Anjali Tendulkar.Gill also explained why Roger Federer remains his favorite tennis player, saying he identifies with the effort behind the Swiss legend’s seemingly simple style.“Roger Federer is my favorite. Growing up, a lot of people said he made everything look effortless. But when you play a sport, you realize how much work goes into making it look that way. People have called me effortless in cricket too, but I know the effort behind that. The elegance and grace with which Federer played was special, and that’s why I admire him.”When asked to predict this year’s Wimbledon champion, Gill backed world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.“I’m rooting for Sinner to win Wimbledon. He’s a fantastic player and behaves very well both on and off the court.”
He wants to accompany Alcaraz in doubles
Gill also revealed that if he ever had the opportunity to play doubles tennis, Carlos Alcaraz would be his preferred partner.“Carlos Alcaraz is the one I would like to play doubles with. He seems like someone who really has fun on the court. It would be fun to play alongside him. I don’t know the details, but I think I can hold my own in tennis, so it would be a fun match.”
Dream dinner with sports legends
When asked to name four sporting icons he would love to have dinner with, Gill chose two tennis legends and two cricket greats.“Serena Williams, Roger Federer and then the cricketers would be Sir Viv Richards and Sachin sir. Those are the four legends I would love to sit down and have dinner with. I think the conversations would be amazing. They have all mastered their eras and have a lot to share about their journeys. It would be a dream dinner.”Gill’s appearance at Wimbledon comes just days before he leads India in the three-match ODI series against England, which begins on July 14 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
