August 29, 2026

July 2026

Worse fall than 1987, billion wipeout as IBM ‘falters’: Why stock price crashed 25% – analysts call it ‘ugly moment’

Worse fall than 1987, $69 billion wipeout as IBM ‘falters’: Why stock price crashed 25% – analysts call it ‘ugly moment’

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

IBM said it had “faltered” in responding to a sharp shift in corporate technology. (AP photo) A $69 billion wipeout and worst fall in nearly 40 years – IBM’s share price on Tuesday crashed 26% in trade in a sign of how the technology sector is rebalancing with the growth of artificial intelligence. Shares of…

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‘Toxic’ star Yash to collaborate with ‘Sapta Saagaradaache Ello’ director Hemanth M Rao? Here’s what we know

‘Toxic’ star Yash to collaborate with ‘Sapta Saagaradaache Ello’ director Hemanth M Rao? Here’s what we know

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Yash is currently busy with the release of his highly anticipated action entertainer ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups,’ but talks have already begun regarding what will follow for the Kannada star actor. Reports suggest that Yash might team up with the talented director Hemanth M Rao, fueling further speculation online. Neither side has officially…

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Quote of the day by Gaur Gopal Das: “ Mistakes happen. A sincere mistake doesn’t define a person… But pay attention to the pattern”; What engineer turned monk advices on differentiating between the pattern and innocence

Quote of the day by Gaur Gopal Das: “ Mistakes happen. A sincere mistake doesn’t define a person… But pay attention to the pattern”; What engineer turned monk advices on differentiating between the pattern and innocence

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Human beings make mistakes, and a single error does not define character. Understanding the difference between a sincere mistake and a repeated pattern is crucial. Patterns reveal habits and priorities, which can lead to disappointment. Healthy relationships require both compassion and accountability from individuals. Forgiveness offers personal peace of mind and reduces stress. Every human…

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FBI adds Indian-origin man to most wanted list over alleged organised crime links

FBI adds Indian-origin man to most wanted list over alleged organised crime links

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday added Indian-origin man Nitish Kaushal to its most wanted list amid the ongoing crackdown on transnational organised crime.According to a release by the FBI, Kaushal is an associate of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group, which is engaged in murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking,…

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Representative image NEW DELHI: Terming it a “travesty of justice” for putting on the dock a man and 16 other members of his family for 26 years for alleged dowry death of his wife in an accidental fire, SC has appealed the courts not to treat defence evidence with “distrust, suspicion or scepticism” and to give equal attention to it like prosecution evidence in trial.A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran said that the defence evidence was given “a complete go by” in this case without any valid reasons, despite the substantive testimonies and credible documents produced remaining uncontroverted. The court acquitted all the 17 accused in the case.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos5 Plots, 4 Flats, Villa: ACB Raid On HMDA Engineer Exposes Rs 9.24 Crore Assets | HyderabadIndia-UK Trade Deal Kicks In From July 15, 99% Of Indian Exports Get Duty-Free AccessSupreme Court Refuses Stay In Bhojshala Case, Allows Alternate Namaz Site Till Final VerdictOp Vijay: How India Captured Tololing And Point 5140 Before Tiger HillAssam’s Tinsukia Uses CCTV And LED Screens To Shame Alleged Public Urinators’Brazenly Violated Our Order’: Supreme Court Imposes ₹3 Lakh Fine On Comedian Samay RainaCalls For Wangchuk To Call Off Hunger Strike Grow: Politicians, Actors, Even Dipke Issue Appeals₹198 Crore, 8 Criminal Cases: What Prashant Kishor’s Bankipur Bypoll Affidavit RevealsIron Rods Hurled, Car Windows Smashed As Family Chased For 15 Km After Harassment RowViral Video Claims Pensioner’s Bank Account Showed Rs 759 Crore, Raises Questions Over Glitch123PhotostoriesExclusive – Sunita Ahuja on Govinda’s alleged affairs and why she chose forgiveness; says ‘Why should I walk away if I love my husband? Kaun sa hero doodh ka dhula hai’From gold mines to desert ruins; 5 real ghost towns across America that look frozen in timeThink you know cows? These 5 surprising facts say otherwise8 ways to stop overthinking before it steals your peace of mindAlia Bhatt serves gothic glam in an all-black look as she joins Sohum Shah for ‘Tumbbad 2’Your kidneys could be losing function for years before creatinine rises; Doctor explains the silent damage most people never notice10 literary baby names inspired by Shakespeare’s timeless playsAvoiding sweets but blood sugar still rising? These overlooked daily habits could be the real reason, says doctor“Children need more than just parents to grow”: Kajol on why she sent her daughter to a boarding schoolHPV vaccine can prevent most cervical cancer cases: What every parent and young woman should know before deciding123Hot PicksNEET recorded responseRSCIT admit cardGold rate todayITR filingOil Price TodaySonam Wangchuk hunger strikeS. JaishankarWayanad LandslideStrait of HormuTop TrendingKarnataka Black MagicVietnam Boat TragedyITR filingFIFA World Cup 2026Tamil Nadu Steel Melting UnitGhaziabad Mall Rape MurderDelhi Police Wife MurderSharad PawarJharkhand RapeIran war

Representative image NEW DELHI: Terming it a “travesty of justice” for putting on the dock a man and 16 other members of his family for 26 years for alleged dowry death of his wife in an accidental fire, SC has appealed the courts not to treat defence evidence with “distrust, suspicion or scepticism” and to give equal attention to it like prosecution evidence in trial.A bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and K Vinod Chandran said that the defence evidence was given “a complete go by” in this case without any valid reasons, despite the substantive testimonies and credible documents produced remaining uncontroverted. The court acquitted all the 17 accused in the case.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos5 Plots, 4 Flats, Villa: ACB Raid On HMDA Engineer Exposes Rs 9.24 Crore Assets | HyderabadIndia-UK Trade Deal Kicks In From July 15, 99% Of Indian Exports Get Duty-Free AccessSupreme Court Refuses Stay In Bhojshala Case, Allows Alternate Namaz Site Till Final VerdictOp Vijay: How India Captured Tololing And Point 5140 Before Tiger HillAssam’s Tinsukia Uses CCTV And LED Screens To Shame Alleged Public Urinators’Brazenly Violated Our Order’: Supreme Court Imposes ₹3 Lakh Fine On Comedian Samay RainaCalls For Wangchuk To Call Off Hunger Strike Grow: Politicians, Actors, Even Dipke Issue Appeals₹198 Crore, 8 Criminal Cases: What Prashant Kishor’s Bankipur Bypoll Affidavit RevealsIron Rods Hurled, Car Windows Smashed As Family Chased For 15 Km After Harassment RowViral Video Claims Pensioner’s Bank Account Showed Rs 759 Crore, Raises Questions Over Glitch123PhotostoriesExclusive – Sunita Ahuja on Govinda’s alleged affairs and why she chose forgiveness; says ‘Why should I walk away if I love my husband? Kaun sa hero doodh ka dhula hai’From gold mines to desert ruins; 5 real ghost towns across America that look frozen in timeThink you know cows? These 5 surprising facts say otherwise8 ways to stop overthinking before it steals your peace of mindAlia Bhatt serves gothic glam in an all-black look as she joins Sohum Shah for ‘Tumbbad 2’Your kidneys could be losing function for years before creatinine rises; Doctor explains the silent damage most people never notice10 literary baby names inspired by Shakespeare’s timeless playsAvoiding sweets but blood sugar still rising? These overlooked daily habits could be the real reason, says doctor“Children need more than just parents to grow”: Kajol on why she sent her daughter to a boarding schoolHPV vaccine can prevent most cervical cancer cases: What every parent and young woman should know before deciding123Hot PicksNEET recorded responseRSCIT admit cardGold rate todayITR filingOil Price TodaySonam Wangchuk hunger strikeS. JaishankarWayanad LandslideStrait of HormuTop TrendingKarnataka Black MagicVietnam Boat TragedyITR filingFIFA World Cup 2026Tamil Nadu Steel Melting UnitGhaziabad Mall Rape MurderDelhi Police Wife MurderSharad PawarJharkhand RapeIran war

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Terming it a “travesty of justice” for putting on the dock a man and 16 other members of his family for 26 years for alleged dowry death of his wife in an accidental fire, SC has appealed the courts not to treat defence evidence with “distrust, suspicion or scepticism” and to give equal…

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Jul 15, 2026, 08:03 IST

Jul 15, 2026, 08:03 IST

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Riots erupt in France (Image: X) France’s 2026 FIFA World Cup dream came to a heartbreaking end after a 2-0 defeat to Spain in the semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. However, after the loss the riots are triggered as videos are widely circulated on social media. Spain outclass France to book…

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Air transport down 14% in April: ISP data

Air transport down 14% in April: ISP data

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Output in the air transport sector contracted nearly 14% in April, NSO’s maiden index of services production (ISP) data released Tuesday show – in what could be a reflection of the impact of high fare costs imposed due to increased fuel prices because of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In contrast, the…

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DHSE Kerala Plus One result 2026 likely to be released today at results.hse.kerala.gov.in: Check complete details here

DHSE Kerala Plus One result 2026 likely to be released today at results.hse.kerala.gov.in: Check complete details here

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The Directorate of Higher Secondary Education (DHSE), Kerala, is likely to announce the Plus One (Class 11) Result 2026 on July 15 after a delay caused by rescheduled Gulf-region examinations. Students can check their results online using their registration number and date of birth. Those failing to meet the qualifying criteria can appear for the…

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Aditya Sarpotdar on his approach to the horror universe: ‘We’re not making films for…’

Aditya Sarpotdar on his approach to the horror universe: ‘We’re not making films for…’

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Aditya Sarpotdar says his horror universe films prioritize the 90% general audience over the 10% who track every detail. Building franchises brings expectations, unlike starting fresh, he notes. With “Shakti Shalini,” his third film after “Munjya” and “Thama,” reinvention is key. The film stars Aneet Padda, Nana Patekar, Vishal Jethwa, releasing Christmas 2026. Even as…

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Used Aluminium Foil Gardening: Don’t throw away used aluminium foil: 7 Smart ways it can benefit indoor and garden plants

Used Aluminium Foil Gardening: Don’t throw away used aluminium foil: 7 Smart ways it can benefit indoor and garden plants

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Although most people tend to throw used aluminium foil in the trash can right after cooking, there are several ways in which gardeners can find practical uses for clean, reusable foil pieces in their gardening projects. Although aluminium foil will never be able to serve as a fertiliser to make plants grow faster, there are…

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‘Will exercise full sovereignty over Hormuz’: Iran defiant as US continues strikes

‘Will exercise full sovereignty over Hormuz’: Iran defiant as US continues strikes

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

His remarks came as the US reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports Iran has ruled out seeking fresh negotiations with the United States, insisting it will maintain control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz despite renewed American military action and a reimposed blockade on Iranian ports.Speaking on state-run television on Tuesday, deputy foreign minister…

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US seismologist has been detained in China for nearly 2 years without trial: Family

US seismologist has been detained in China for nearly 2 years without trial: Family

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Yufang Rong with husband Youlin Chen, an American seismologist who faces espionage charges WASHINGTON: A Chinese-born American seismologist who has published US-funded work on detecting North Korean nuclear tests has been detained in China for nearly two years and faces trial on spying charges, according to his wife, US lawmakers and two hostage advocacy groups.The…

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From Shubman Gill and Priyanka Chopra to tennis lifers such as Lara Dutta and Ravi Shastri, Wimbledon now offers sport, style, status, and sentiment Wimbledon is a great place to stargaze — from Hollywood and Bollywood to musicians, royalty, sporting icons and the fashion elite. For an Indian walking the grounds in southwest London this past fortnight, there was another striking sight: the sheer number of familiar faces from home.Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill seemed to be everywhere. One moment, he was chatting with Roger Federer, whose post-retirement reinvention as a style icon has only added to his allure. Photographs of the duo swept across social media. Next, Gill was in the Royal Box alongside Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali.Shubman GillWimbledon dubbed Gill the “Prince of Indian cricket”. In an interview with the hosts, Gill returned the compliment, calling Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, both two-time champions here, the “princes of tennis”.Gill picked Federer as his greatest tennis inspiration.“People associate him with being very effortless,” he said. “When I started playing cricket, people also used to call me effortless, but then, you know, how much effort goes into making it look effortless to people.”Beyond the baselineFor India’s sporting and entertainment elite, Wimbledon has become more than a tennis tournament. It is one of the rare sporting events that occupies the same cultural space as a fashion week or a Hollywood premiere. Over the fortnight, the grounds drew figures such as Anna Wintour, Jennifer Lopez, Lily Collins, Tom Hiddleston, Nicole Kidman and Benedict Cumberbatch, among others.Wimbledon has become as much a place to be seen as a place to watch tennis, in a way that Melbourne, Paris and New York have yet to replicate.Which raises the obvious question: why has Wimbledon become the Grand Slam that Indian celebrities increasingly want to attach themselves to? According to Sally Bolton, chief executive officer of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, that growing visibility is no accident. In its bid to reach new audiences at home and abroad, Wimbledon has consciously broadened its appeal beyond tennis.“That’s how we’ve used the intersectionality of sport with culture, fashion, celebrity,” Bolton told TOI. “It’s using that space, talking about The Championships to a new audience, who might not be natural tennis fans, and who might grow an affinity for Wimbledon for reasons that go beyond the tennis.”The strategy has produced striking results in India.“I remember we had Rohit Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar here in 2024,” Bolton said. “They were in the Royal Box and they posted a few pictures on social media. The scale of engagement we got from what was a relatively simple thing was enormous in India. People who may never have really thought about tennis before, that kind of gave them a reason to ask, what is Wimbledon? And might I be interested in that?”Indian cricketers at Wimbledon are hardly a new phenomenon. In Cricket Delightful, Mushtaq Ali wrote that the Indian team touring Britain in 1936 was invited to Wimbledon, where its members watched Fred Perry in action. That was 90 years ago.The faces have changed, but the fascination remains.Tennis LifersAsk Ravi Shastri, the cricketer-turned-coach-turned-commentator for whom tennis was his first sport.“I played tennis first and then shifted to cricket,” he said. “I knew as much about tennis records as I knew about cricket records of the 70s. Even now, I follow tennis.”Shastri has been coming to Wimbledon since 1982, when Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova won the singles titles. In 2019, he was seated behind the umpire’s chair during the men’s final, in which Roger Federer lost to Novak Djokovic after holding two championship points.Shastri, then coach of the Indian cricket team, was seated almost level with the court and was struck by the sound and speed of the game.“You see how hard they hit the ball. And how it flies, you watch their footwork, the way they move. It was unbelievable,” he said.Having attended three of the four Grand Slams, including the Australian Open and Roland Garros, Shastri places Wimbledon above the rest.“It has tradition, it has history; the rules don’t bend that easily there,” he said. “Strawberries and cream, Pimms… and every time you go there, it grows on you more. It’s something different. You know that right from the moment you walk through that gate and enter the grounds. It is a whole different vibe.”Ravi ShastriFor Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Miss Universe 2000 and actor, Wimbledon also represents something more personal. Her connection comes through her husband, Mahesh Bhupathi, who won three Wimbledon titles — one in men’s doubles and two in mixed doubles.“My introduction to Wimbledon is very different from the others in Bollywood,” Lara said.Each summer, Mahesh, Lara and their daughter Saira make what has become an annual pilgrimage to SW19.“It’s a different feeling now when we walk around the grounds. As I walked past the player restaurant, I remember Saira was crawling around the place then. She’s 15 now and plays tennis,” Lara said. “But every summer we are here for our tennis fix.”Lara DuttaCentre court cachetBut Lara is also clear-eyed about what draws much of the wider celebrity crowd.“If there’s a place you want to be seen at in the summer, it’s the Centre Court of Wimbledon,” she said. “Now you see a lot of the global stars from every industry here, and most of the people from the industry back home are also signed on by global brands, they are just leveraging their net worth.”This year’s Indian contingent included Priyanka Chopra, Ananya Panday, Deepti Sharma, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Yuvraj Singh, Ayesha Khan, Archana Puran Singh, Sreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan, among others.Sanju SamsonPriyanka, beauty queen, actor and, more recently, style icon, arrived in a ruffled Toni Maticevski dress and delighted fans by FaceTiming her husband, Nick Jonas, from Centre Court.Priyanka Chopra Jonas video calls her husband Nick from Centre Court of Wimbledon. On her left is her manager Anjula Acharia and British actor-singer Cynthia Erivo.“Usually he accompanies me to Wimbledon,” she explained to Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj during a chat. “He’s a big fan; he wasn’t able to do that. He is back home in LA, so I just did a three-second video.”The video promptly went viral.The celebrity carousel now extends beyond film stars and cricketers. Wimbledon has also become a destination for influencers and social media personalities, who pose beside trophies, smile for endless photographs, sip Pimm’s — the signature cocktail of The Championships — and broadcast the experience to thousands of followers.Their reels offer guides to what to wear, where to pose and what to eat at Wimbledon — though not necessarily whom to watch.Part Of The spectacleAt a tournament without courtside advertising hoardings, the people themselves have become part of the spectacle.Bolton said the same thinking lies behind Wimbledon’s engagement with influencers.“It’s about taking opportunities to get to new and different audiences. By using those that have access to that audience.”That, ultimately, is Wimbledon’s peculiar achievement. It can be a branding opportunity, a fashion statement, a family tradition and a sporting pilgrimage all at once. The celebrity arrivals and social-media posts may draw new audiences through the gates, but the tournament’s history and atmosphere give them a reason to return.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorPrajwal HegdePrajwal Hegde, Senior Editor (Tennis) at The Times of India since July 2005, has covered all four Grand Slams—Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open—for over a decade, along with Tour events across Asia and Europe, Davis Cup, and BJK Cup. She received the 2021 Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award from the ATP. Prajwal serves on the International Tennis Federation’s Media Commission and is a member of the International Tennis Writers Association. She appears in the docuseries Break Point and authored the Steffi Graf chapter in Sportstars 40, published by The Hindu in January 2020.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos5 Plots, 4 Flats, Villa: ACB Raid On HMDA Engineer Exposes Rs 9.24 Crore Assets | HyderabadIndia-UK Trade Deal Kicks In From July 15, 99% Of Indian Exports Get Duty-Free AccessSupreme Court Refuses Stay In Bhojshala Case, Allows Alternate Namaz Site Till Final VerdictOp Vijay: How India Captured Tololing And Point 5140 Before Tiger HillAssam’s Tinsukia Uses CCTV And LED Screens To Shame Alleged Public Urinators’Brazenly Violated Our Order’: Supreme Court Imposes ₹3 Lakh Fine On Comedian Samay RainaCalls For Wangchuk To Call Off Hunger Strike Grow: Politicians, Actors, Even Dipke Issue Appeals₹198 Crore, 8 Criminal Cases: What Prashant Kishor’s Bankipur Bypoll Affidavit RevealsIron Rods Hurled, Car Windows Smashed As Family Chased For 15 Km After Harassment RowViral Video Claims Pensioner’s Bank Account Showed Rs 759 Crore, Raises Questions Over Glitch123PhotostoriesAre fewer toys better for your child? What happened when a German kindergarten removed every toy for three monthsExclusive – Sunita Ahuja on Govinda’s alleged affairs and why she chose forgiveness; says ‘Why should I walk away if I love my husband? Kaun sa hero doodh ka dhula hai’From gold mines to desert ruins; 5 real ghost towns across America that look frozen in timeThink you know cows? These 5 surprising facts say otherwise8 ways to stop overthinking before it steals your peace of mindAlia Bhatt serves gothic glam in an all-black look as she joins Sohum Shah for ‘Tumbbad 2’Your kidneys could be losing function for years before creatinine rises; Doctor explains the silent damage most people never notice10 literary baby names inspired by Shakespeare’s timeless playsAvoiding sweets but blood sugar still rising? These overlooked daily habits could be the real reason, says doctor“Children need more than just parents to grow”: Kajol on why she sent her daughter to a boarding school123Hot PicksNEET recorded responseRSCIT admit cardGold rate todayITR filingOil Price TodaySonam Wangchuk hunger strikeS. JaishankarWayanad LandslideStrait of HormuTop TrendingKarnataka Black MagicVietnam Boat TragedyITR filingFIFA World Cup 2026Tamil Nadu Steel Melting UnitGhaziabad Mall Rape MurderDelhi Police Wife MurderSharad PawarJharkhand RapeIran war

From Shubman Gill and Priyanka Chopra to tennis lifers such as Lara Dutta and Ravi Shastri, Wimbledon now offers sport, style, status, and sentiment Wimbledon is a great place to stargaze — from Hollywood and Bollywood to musicians, royalty, sporting icons and the fashion elite. For an Indian walking the grounds in southwest London this past fortnight, there was another striking sight: the sheer number of familiar faces from home.Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill seemed to be everywhere. One moment, he was chatting with Roger Federer, whose post-retirement reinvention as a style icon has only added to his allure. Photographs of the duo swept across social media. Next, Gill was in the Royal Box alongside Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anjali.Shubman GillWimbledon dubbed Gill the “Prince of Indian cricket”. In an interview with the hosts, Gill returned the compliment, calling Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, both two-time champions here, the “princes of tennis”.Gill picked Federer as his greatest tennis inspiration.“People associate him with being very effortless,” he said. “When I started playing cricket, people also used to call me effortless, but then, you know, how much effort goes into making it look effortless to people.”Beyond the baselineFor India’s sporting and entertainment elite, Wimbledon has become more than a tennis tournament. It is one of the rare sporting events that occupies the same cultural space as a fashion week or a Hollywood premiere. Over the fortnight, the grounds drew figures such as Anna Wintour, Jennifer Lopez, Lily Collins, Tom Hiddleston, Nicole Kidman and Benedict Cumberbatch, among others.Wimbledon has become as much a place to be seen as a place to watch tennis, in a way that Melbourne, Paris and New York have yet to replicate.Which raises the obvious question: why has Wimbledon become the Grand Slam that Indian celebrities increasingly want to attach themselves to? According to Sally Bolton, chief executive officer of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, that growing visibility is no accident. In its bid to reach new audiences at home and abroad, Wimbledon has consciously broadened its appeal beyond tennis.“That’s how we’ve used the intersectionality of sport with culture, fashion, celebrity,” Bolton told TOI. “It’s using that space, talking about The Championships to a new audience, who might not be natural tennis fans, and who might grow an affinity for Wimbledon for reasons that go beyond the tennis.”The strategy has produced striking results in India.“I remember we had Rohit Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar here in 2024,” Bolton said. “They were in the Royal Box and they posted a few pictures on social media. The scale of engagement we got from what was a relatively simple thing was enormous in India. People who may never have really thought about tennis before, that kind of gave them a reason to ask, what is Wimbledon? And might I be interested in that?”Indian cricketers at Wimbledon are hardly a new phenomenon. In Cricket Delightful, Mushtaq Ali wrote that the Indian team touring Britain in 1936 was invited to Wimbledon, where its members watched Fred Perry in action. That was 90 years ago.The faces have changed, but the fascination remains.Tennis LifersAsk Ravi Shastri, the cricketer-turned-coach-turned-commentator for whom tennis was his first sport.“I played tennis first and then shifted to cricket,” he said. “I knew as much about tennis records as I knew about cricket records of the 70s. Even now, I follow tennis.”Shastri has been coming to Wimbledon since 1982, when Jimmy Connors and Martina Navratilova won the singles titles. In 2019, he was seated behind the umpire’s chair during the men’s final, in which Roger Federer lost to Novak Djokovic after holding two championship points.Shastri, then coach of the Indian cricket team, was seated almost level with the court and was struck by the sound and speed of the game.“You see how hard they hit the ball. And how it flies, you watch their footwork, the way they move. It was unbelievable,” he said.Having attended three of the four Grand Slams, including the Australian Open and Roland Garros, Shastri places Wimbledon above the rest.“It has tradition, it has history; the rules don’t bend that easily there,” he said. “Strawberries and cream, Pimms… and every time you go there, it grows on you more. It’s something different. You know that right from the moment you walk through that gate and enter the grounds. It is a whole different vibe.”Ravi ShastriFor Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Miss Universe 2000 and actor, Wimbledon also represents something more personal. Her connection comes through her husband, Mahesh Bhupathi, who won three Wimbledon titles — one in men’s doubles and two in mixed doubles.“My introduction to Wimbledon is very different from the others in Bollywood,” Lara said.Each summer, Mahesh, Lara and their daughter Saira make what has become an annual pilgrimage to SW19.“It’s a different feeling now when we walk around the grounds. As I walked past the player restaurant, I remember Saira was crawling around the place then. She’s 15 now and plays tennis,” Lara said. “But every summer we are here for our tennis fix.”Lara DuttaCentre court cachetBut Lara is also clear-eyed about what draws much of the wider celebrity crowd.“If there’s a place you want to be seen at in the summer, it’s the Centre Court of Wimbledon,” she said. “Now you see a lot of the global stars from every industry here, and most of the people from the industry back home are also signed on by global brands, they are just leveraging their net worth.”This year’s Indian contingent included Priyanka Chopra, Ananya Panday, Deepti Sharma, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Yuvraj Singh, Ayesha Khan, Archana Puran Singh, Sreeleela and Kalyani Priyadarshan, among others.Sanju SamsonPriyanka, beauty queen, actor and, more recently, style icon, arrived in a ruffled Toni Maticevski dress and delighted fans by FaceTiming her husband, Nick Jonas, from Centre Court.Priyanka Chopra Jonas video calls her husband Nick from Centre Court of Wimbledon. On her left is her manager Anjula Acharia and British actor-singer Cynthia Erivo.“Usually he accompanies me to Wimbledon,” she explained to Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj during a chat. “He’s a big fan; he wasn’t able to do that. He is back home in LA, so I just did a three-second video.”The video promptly went viral.The celebrity carousel now extends beyond film stars and cricketers. Wimbledon has also become a destination for influencers and social media personalities, who pose beside trophies, smile for endless photographs, sip Pimm’s — the signature cocktail of The Championships — and broadcast the experience to thousands of followers.Their reels offer guides to what to wear, where to pose and what to eat at Wimbledon — though not necessarily whom to watch.Part Of The spectacleAt a tournament without courtside advertising hoardings, the people themselves have become part of the spectacle.Bolton said the same thinking lies behind Wimbledon’s engagement with influencers.“It’s about taking opportunities to get to new and different audiences. By using those that have access to that audience.”That, ultimately, is Wimbledon’s peculiar achievement. It can be a branding opportunity, a fashion statement, a family tradition and a sporting pilgrimage all at once. The celebrity arrivals and social-media posts may draw new audiences through the gates, but the tournament’s history and atmosphere give them a reason to return.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorPrajwal HegdePrajwal Hegde, Senior Editor (Tennis) at The Times of India since July 2005, has covered all four Grand Slams—Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open—for over a decade, along with Tour events across Asia and Europe, Davis Cup, and BJK Cup. She received the 2021 Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award from the ATP. Prajwal serves on the International Tennis Federation’s Media Commission and is a member of the International Tennis Writers Association. She appears in the docuseries Break Point and authored the Steffi Graf chapter in Sportstars 40, published by The Hindu in January 2020.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos5 Plots, 4 Flats, Villa: ACB Raid On HMDA Engineer Exposes Rs 9.24 Crore Assets | HyderabadIndia-UK Trade Deal Kicks In From July 15, 99% Of Indian Exports Get Duty-Free AccessSupreme Court Refuses Stay In Bhojshala Case, Allows Alternate Namaz Site Till Final VerdictOp Vijay: How India Captured Tololing And Point 5140 Before Tiger HillAssam’s Tinsukia Uses CCTV And LED Screens To Shame Alleged Public Urinators’Brazenly Violated Our Order’: Supreme Court Imposes ₹3 Lakh Fine On Comedian Samay RainaCalls For Wangchuk To Call Off Hunger Strike Grow: Politicians, Actors, Even Dipke Issue Appeals₹198 Crore, 8 Criminal Cases: What Prashant Kishor’s Bankipur Bypoll Affidavit RevealsIron Rods Hurled, Car Windows Smashed As Family Chased For 15 Km After Harassment RowViral Video Claims Pensioner’s Bank Account Showed Rs 759 Crore, Raises Questions Over Glitch123PhotostoriesAre fewer toys better for your child? What happened when a German kindergarten removed every toy for three monthsExclusive – Sunita Ahuja on Govinda’s alleged affairs and why she chose forgiveness; says ‘Why should I walk away if I love my husband? Kaun sa hero doodh ka dhula hai’From gold mines to desert ruins; 5 real ghost towns across America that look frozen in timeThink you know cows? These 5 surprising facts say otherwise8 ways to stop overthinking before it steals your peace of mindAlia Bhatt serves gothic glam in an all-black look as she joins Sohum Shah for ‘Tumbbad 2’Your kidneys could be losing function for years before creatinine rises; Doctor explains the silent damage most people never notice10 literary baby names inspired by Shakespeare’s timeless playsAvoiding sweets but blood sugar still rising? 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Vamsikrishna07 mins mins

From Shubman Gill and Priyanka Chopra to tennis lifers such as Lara Dutta and Ravi Shastri, Wimbledon now offers sport, style, status, and sentiment Wimbledon is a great place to stargaze — from Hollywood and Bollywood to musicians, royalty, sporting icons and the fashion elite. For an Indian walking the grounds in southwest London this…

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Jul 15, 2026, 06:47 IST

Jul 15, 2026, 06:47 IST

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) in after the World Cup semifinal match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo) Kylian Mbappe did not hide behind excuses. He looked at what happened in Arlington on Tuesday night and called it exactly what it was, a failure in every area of the game.France’s 2-0 defeat to…

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IBM shares tank 26% after initial results disappoint

IBM shares tank 26% after initial results disappoint

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Shares of software and IT services companies plunged Tuesday after International Business Machines (IBM) reported preliminary results that missed analyst expectations, reigniting questions about the sector.IBM shares plummeted as much as 26%, on track for their biggest one-day drop since at least 1968. The company reported that it missed expectations because customers shifted capital spending…

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‘Gatta Kusthi 2’ box office collection day 12: Vishnu Vishal’s sports drama marches steadily towards Rs 50 crore worldwide

‘Gatta Kusthi 2’ box office collection day 12: Vishnu Vishal’s sports drama marches steadily towards Rs 50 crore worldwide

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Vishnu Vishal starrer ‘Gatta Kusthi 2’ is proving that a film can survive on strong word of mouth even when the buzz of the opening week fades. Indian sports family entertainer is still drawing audiences in its second week due to its mix of humour, emotions, and wrestling action. While weekday collections have naturally slowed,…

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Trump pressures Netanyahu to pull Israeli forces out of Syria, Lebanon

Trump pressures Netanyahu to pull Israeli forces out of Syria, Lebanon

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin withdrawing Israeli forces from southern Syria and Lebanon during a phone call last week, according to a report by Axios, citing American and Israeli officials.According to the report, Trump warned that Israel’s continued military presence in Syrian territory could fuel further instability.“They don’t…

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