Shubman Gill likens his trademark short-arm jab to Carlos Alcaraz's deceptive drop shot
India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has drawn a fascinating parallel between cricket and tennis, linking Carlos Alcaraz's signature drop shot to his own lethal short-arm jab.
The young batting sensation made the comparison after attending the men's semifinals at Wimbledon. While Alcaraz utilises his drop shot as a masterclass in modern court deception, Gill famously relies on the short-arm jab to neutralise short balls on the cricket pitch.
Speaking on JioStar, Gill highlighted the structural similarities between the two tactical weapons:
"The drop shot that Alcaraz plays, it reminds me of the short-arm jab in cricket. I play that shot too, it's my trademark shot. Quick, deceptive, and very effective."
The quest for 'effortless' elegance
Beyond tactical comparisons, Gill opened up about his deep-seated admiration for tennis maestro Roger Federer. He noted that the public perception of grace often hides the intense grind behind the scenes—a reality he knows all too well.
"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 shared.
When asked about his ideal sports crossover, Gill immediately selected Alcaraz as his dream doubles partner. "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."
Also read: ‘Three generations of Indian cricketing royalty’: Wimbledon celebrates Tendulkar, Kohli and Gill
Tournament backing & a dream dinner party
Looking at the current tournament layout, the Indian captain threw his weight behind world No. 1 Jannik Sinner to capture the historic title at the All England Club. "I'm backing Sinner to win Wimbledon. He is a fantastic player, and he carries himself really well both on and off the court," Gill remarked.
Finally, Gill was asked to assemble the ultimate, multi-generational sporting dinner guest list. The skipper paired legendary cricket icons with standard-bearers of tennis history:
"Serena Williams, Roger Federer, and then the cricketers would be Sir Viv Richards and Sachin sir. Those are the four legends I would love to sit with and have dinner with them. I think the conversations would be incredible. They have all dominated their eras and have so much to share about their journeys. It would be a dream dinner." (PTI)