The hallowed grounds of Wimbledon 2025 have witnessed a delightful crossover of sports, with several prominent cricketers gracing the stands to enjoy the tennis action. Among the stars spotted were Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, adding a touch of cricketing glamour to the prestigious tennis tournament.
Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, was seen at Centre Court with his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma. Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, was in London after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He witnessed Novak Djokovic's thrilling Round of 16 victory against Alex de Minaur. Kohli lauded Djokovic's performance, calling him a "gladiator" in an Instagram story. Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, responded with gratitude. Kohli has been in touch with Djokovic for a few years, and they have mutual respect for each other’s achievements. Kohli also expressed his desire to see Djokovic win his eighth Wimbledon title and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
Rishabh Pant, India's dynamic wicket-keeper batter, also attended Wimbledon 2025. Pant, currently the vice-captain of the Test side, was spotted at the All England Club, dressed in a stylish formal suit. Wimbledon's official Instagram handle shared a photo of Pant, welcoming him to the tournament. Pant's appearance at Wimbledon came just a day after India's commanding 336-run win against England in the second Test at Edgbaston. He has been in outstanding form in the ongoing Test series, scoring 342 runs in four innings at an average of 85.50. Pant has been dominating proceedings in England and has emerged as the biggest threat for the hosts.
Besides Kohli and Pant, other cricketers like James Anderson and Joe Root were also spotted at Wimbledon. They were seen in the Royal Box, enjoying the matches. Root even had the opportunity to greet Roger Federer. West Indies legend Brian Lara also graced Centre Court. Wimbledon extended birthday wishes to MS Dhoni, further highlighting the connection between tennis and cricket.
The presence of these cricket stars at Wimbledon 2025 underscores the widespread appeal of the tournament and the shared passion for sports among athletes from different disciplines. It also provided a welcome distraction for the cricketers amidst their busy schedules, allowing them to unwind and enjoy the thrilling atmosphere of Wimbledon.