Watching Alcaraz is like watching Rishabh Pant; they are showmen, so expect the unexpected: Sunil Gavaskar

Beyond the exciting action on the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s grass courts, Wimbledon 2025 has already seen some of the world’s most well-known celebrities in sports and entertainment occupy the Royal Box.

In addition to Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, and Deepak Chahar, Sunil Gavaskar and Rishabh Pant were sighted at the tennis tournament this week. The two discussed the Wimbledon knockouts and the performances of Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, and others.

“Every time I visit England around this time, I go to Wimbledon, but I rarely travel to Lord’s if India isn’t playing there. So, certainly, you could say I come here more frequently than I do to Lord’s. I want Djokovic to win because it will be his 25th Grand Slam victory. Nobody has ever won 25 majors, so this would be spectacular. My heart says Djokovic, but I think my mind says Alcaraz. Also, Alcaraz, because I believe Sinner is hurt. “We don’t know if he’ll be 100% for the rest of the tournament,” Gavasar told Star Sports.

Gavaskar made an unusual connection between Indian batsman Rishabh Pant and Spanish tennis great Carlos Alcaraz, saying,

“Alcaraz moves so beautifully and has all the shots in the book. He can be a little showy at times, attempting drop shots when he should be finishing the point. But that’s what people flock to witness, just like Rishabh Pant. Pant requires you to expect the unexpected. Similarly, with Alcaraz, you should expect the unexpected. That’s what makes him so captivating.”

Reflecting on what cricket and tennis have in common at the highest level, Pant explained: “One thing I would take is mindset. You can play any sport, but if your mindset isn’t right, you can’t make it to the top. That’s the difference between a good player and an excellent one. It sets you apart.”