Shubman Gill will lead India at the ‘Home of Cricket’ – Lord’s – in just over a week from now. However, this week, he will walk into one of the most exclusive sporting enclosures in the world.
It’s been quite a week for the Indian Test and ODI captain After spending time in the Formula One paddock at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix, Gill is now set for another iconic sporting experience. He has received an invitation to watch Wimbledon from the Royal Box, becoming only the fourth Indian cricket captain after Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to receive the honour.
In his beige blazer with sunglasses on, Gill was snapped at the Wimbledon arena on Friday. Gill will be in the stands for the Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic semi-final at the centre court.
Why a Wimbledon Royal Box invite is such a big deal
Unlike most premium sporting experiences, a seat in Wimbledon’s Royal Box cannot be purchased. There are no luxury packages, no memberships and no shortcuts.
The Royal Box consists of just 74 seats on Centre Court, with invitations personally approved by the Chair of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC). Across the two-week tournament, only a small number of athletes, heads of state, members of royal families, cultural icons and globally recognised personalities receive invitations.
It is widely regarded as one of the most exclusive guest lists in sport. Past attendees have included members of the British Royal Family, former Wimbledon champions, global political leaders, David Beckham, Tom Cruise and several sporting legends from around the world.
The experience itself is equally special. Guests receive access to private areas of the All England Club, premium hospitality, fine dining and arguably the best view in tennis.
For Indian cricket, the invitation is massive, as it shows how globally attractive the Indian superstars have become. Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli and Rohit were all invited after becoming faces of world cricket. Gill is now entering that conversation. At 26, he is already India’s Test and ODI captain, one of the biggest stars in the game and a player viewed as the face of Indian cricket’s current and next era.
When will we see Gill play for India next?
As far as cricket is concerned, Shubman Gill will lead India in the next four days. After the ongoing T20I series against England, the Indian team are set to feature in a three-match ODI series. Gill, of course, will lead the Indian team, with Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah also returning.
Although India have been outplayed quite easily in the T20Is, Gautam Gambhir and management will hope for better returns in the 50-over format. Under Gill, India won its first ODI bilateral series when they hosted Afghanistan for three games. Gill was particularly superb with the bat, scoring 238 runs at an incredible SR of 135.23. He was the Player of the series, and would now hope to continue with his superb form.
