Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes Wimbledon center court debut and picks tennis star favorite

Indian cricket’s teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi enjoyed a memorable first visit to Wimbledon on Sunday, taking part in the men’s singles final alongside Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as a 15-year-old soaking up the atmosphere on Center Court.

Fresh from a breakthrough year in cricket, Vaibhav was one of several Indian cricketers at the All England Club, where he spoke about experiencing one of the most iconic sports for the first time.

“I’m here to watch the final match and see what it’s like, watch live and see how the players perform in the final. It should be a great experience,” Vaibhav said during an interview for Wimbledon.

Young Indian cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi enters the iconic world of Wimbledon!

From soaking in the electric atmosphere of the championship to sharing his thoughts on tennis, Vaibhav opens up in this exclusive interview.#Wimbledon 2026 | LIVE NOW pic.twitter.com/LssvFh6eWI— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 12, 2026

DJOKOVIC HIS IDOL

The youngster revealed that he has been following tennis for the past four to five years and named Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the players he most admired growing up.

“I used to watch Nadal and Djokovic a lot. I like Djokovic a lot, but those were the two players I watched the most,” he said.

Sinner vs Zverev, Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final: Update

Asked which player from the new generation of tennis impressed him the most, Vaibhav backed world number one Jannik Sinner to win the Wimbledon final.

“I really liked Sinner, the way he dominated the whole tournament. Let’s hope he wins today,” he said.

The teenager also spoke about his sharp look for the occasion, revealing that fellow cricketer Abhishek Sharma helped him get ready.

Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav experience the magic of Wimbledon as Yuvraj shares his first meeting with the young star fondly called ‘Boss Baby’ and reflects on how the next generation of Indian cricket reminds him of tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Alexander. pic.twitter.com/lJb1KIIcEI— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 12, 2026

“I didn’t really plan anything specific. I just wore what I found quickly. Abhishek helped arrange it and here I am,” he said.

CRICKET AT SW19

Vaibhav’s visit continued the strong presence of Indian cricket at this year’s championship. Earlier in the week, the batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill took part in the men’s singles semi-finals from the iconic Royal Box, with Tendulkar making another appearance at one of his favorite sporting events and Gill enjoying his first Wimbledon experience.

On Sunday, the spotlight shifted to the next generation as Vaibhav took part in the final alongside former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, current India teammates in the T20I setup Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. The Indian T20I side has just completed a five-match series against England, where they lost 0-4.

Champions recognize the changing game.

Yuvraj Singh shares how the next generation of cricket, led by Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav, is adopting the same fearless approach that defines Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.#Wimbledon 2026 | LIVE NOW on Star Sports & JioHotstar pic.twitter.com/yqXRy1gRVd— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 12, 2026

The interview also brought a light-hearted moment when Vaibhav was asked to choose a cricketer as his tennis partner in doubles.

“I have already mentioned Abhishek bhaiya. Since he is my opening partner, I would choose him here as well,” he said.

Still only 15, Vaibhav has emerged as one of Indian cricket’s brightest young prospects and his performance at Wimbledon reflected the growing transition between cricket and tennis, with several leading cricketers becoming regulars at the All England Club during the grass-court season.

But for the teenager, the visit was about more than celebrity appearances. It was an opportunity to witness elite athletes compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages while drawing inspiration from champions off the cricket field.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

12 Jul 2026 22:43 IST