Gavaskar draws a striking parallel between Rishabh Pant and Carlos Alcaraz

England is currently celebrating an epic sporting summer, with action at its peak across multiple disciplines. Last week saw the iconic British Grand Prix wrap up, with home star Lando Norris clinching the title at Silverstone. Meanwhile, as the five-match India vs England Test series gathers thrilling momentum, the nearby arena is hosting Wimbledon, widely regarded as the most prestigious tennis Grand Slam. Centre Court in London has welcomed stars from various fields, including the likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ajinkya Rahane, among others. As Wimbledon nears an epic conclusion, former Indian cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar drew an intriguing comparison between Carlos Alcaraz and Rishabh Pant.

"Expect the unexpected": Gavaskar calls Carlos Alcaraz and Rishabh Pant the 'showmen' of their sports

Carlos Alcaraz, the World No. 2 in the ATP Rankings, is going from one high to another on the tour. Playing at Wimbledon 2025, the 22-year-old Spaniard is leading the campaign as the two-time defending champion. The last two seasons witnessed Alcaraz overcoming the 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the final match to lift the grass-court Slam. Now, Alcaraz has booked a spot in the semi-final with a straight-sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 domination over Cameron Norrie. The Spaniard now needs to overcome the US seed, Taylor Fritz, in the semifinal at the All England Club to reach yet another Wimbledon final.

Meanwhile, if Alcaraz sets his foot in the ultimate clash, the likely outcome, he will meet either the World No. 1 Jannik Sinner or the 7-time grass champion Novak Djokovic. As the action surges at the Centre Court, Sunil Gavaskar, also in London, made a comparison between Alcaraz and Rishabh Pant. The Indian wicketkeeper is currently at Lord's playing the third India vs England Test at the Home of Cricket. The five-match series is standing level, with the hosts and India winning a contest each so far. 

Before the third Test kicked off at Lord's, Rishabh Pant paid a visit to Wimbledon after wrapping up a massive victory over England in the Edgbaston Test. The flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter talked about tennis, terming Roger Federer as his favorite player in the sport. Moreover, when asked about his choice for the title-winner this season, Pant backed Alcaraz over Djokovic. Furthermore, Pant explained that he thinks his temperament matches that of Nick Kyrgios.

However, Gavaskar has now differed. The Indian legend, who celebrated his 76th birthday on Thursday, explained that both Alcaraz and Pant have a dynamic style. "Expect the unexpected": that's how Gavaskar views the approach of both Pant and Alcaraz in their respective sports. The former Indian skipper lauded Alcaraz for the variety of shots he displays on the court, calling him a 'showman' much like Pant.

“Alcaraz is moving around so well, and he’s got all the shots in the book. He can be a bit of a showman sometimes, trying those drop shots when you think he should be finishing the point. But that’s what people come to watch, it’s like watching Rishabh Pant. With Pant, you have to expect the unexpected. Similarly, with Alcaraz, you have got to expect the unexpected. That’s what makes him so exciting," Gavaskar said.

Coming to the predictions, Gavaskar made a keen observation. The Indian star wants Novak Djokovic to lift the title because of how iconic a mark it would be for Nole to pick his 25th career Grand Slam. However, moving ahead in his answer, Gavaskar explained that his mind, however, puts Alcaraz ahead in the race, partly because the World No. 1, Jannik Sinner, is experiencing discomfort in his wrist.

“Every time I am in England around this time, I go to Wimbledon, but I hardly go to Lord’s if India isn’t playing there. So yes, one could say that I come here more often than I go to Lord’s. I would like Djokovic to win because it would be his 25th Grand Slam title. Nobody has ever won 25 majors, so that would be fantastic. My heart says Djokovic, but I guess my mind says Alcaraz. Also, Alcaraz, simply because I think Sinner is injured. Whether he’s going to be 100% for the remainder of the tournament, we don’t know,” Gavaskar said.