Shubman Gill swaps bat for tennis racket, picks Carlos Alcaraz as dream doubles partner
India captain Shubman Gill may be making waves on the cricket field, but the 26-year-old revealed that if he had the chance to swap his bat for a tennis racket, there is only one player he would want by his side, two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Gill was among the star guests at Wimbledon on Friday during the men’s singles semifinals, attending the Championships alongside cricket greats Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara as the tournament reached its business end. The Indian batter said Alcaraz’s infectious energy and carefree approach on the court make him his ideal doubles partner.
Speaking to JioStar, Gill backed himself to hold his own on the tennis court.
“Carlos Alcaraz is the one who I would to play doubles with. He looks like someone who really enjoys himself 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 that would be a fun match,” Gill said.
FEDERER REMAINS GILL’S SPORTING ICON
While Alcaraz is Gill’s pick for a dream doubles partnership, the India captain said his greatest tennis inspiration continues to be Roger Federer. Gill drew parallels between the Swiss legend’s graceful style and the perception that he, too, makes batting look effortless.
“Roger Federer is my favourite. Growing up, a lot of people said he made everything look effortless. But when you play a sport yourself, you realise how much work goes into making it look that way. People have called me effortless in cricket too, but I know the effort behind it. The elegance and grace Federer played with was special, and that is why I admire him,” Gill added.
Gill also enjoyed a memorable moment during his Wimbledon visit after meeting Federer. The Indian skipper became only the fourth India men’s cricket captain to receive an invitation to the prestigious Royal Box at Centre Court, after Sachin, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Wimbledon has long been a meeting point for sporting icons from across disciplines, and this year’s Championships were no different, with Gill, Tendulkar and Lara joining several global stars and former champions at the All England Club.
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