Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has drawn striking parallels between cricket and tennis legends, likening former India captain MS Dhoni to Roger Federer and current star Virat Kohli to young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz. The comparison came during a conversation with former tennis player Rohan Bopanna on JioStar ahead of Wimbledon 2026.
Samson’s Cricket-Tennis Analogies
Sanju Samson explained his reasoning behind the comparisons. “The Roger Federer of cricket? It has to be MS Dhoni. He is very calm and composed in the way he goes about his business. When he performs, it looks effortless yet very powerful,” Samson said. He then contrasted Dhoni with Kohli, stating, “Carlos Alcaraz, on the other hand, is very explosive, much like how Virat bhai started. Maybe Virat Kohli can be compared to Alcaraz. He is very aggressive and full of power and explosiveness.”
Bopanna’s Wimbledon Predictions
Rohan Bopanna, a seasoned doubles player, shared his predictions for the men’s and women’s singles titles at Wimbledon 2026. “It’s such a tough question; the field is so open. But I have to go with defending champion Jannik Sinner for the men’s tournament. Among women, I would pick Elena Rybakina,” Bopanna said.
Reflecting on his personal memories of Wimbledon, Bopanna described the tournament as a lifelong dream. “Wimbledon is a magical dream because I grew up watching only that. Back home, we only used to watch Wimbledon. In fact, television only broadcasted Wimbledon. So, for me to go there and not only be present but also play on those courts was absolutely amazing. I also played in an era when the three greatest tennis players of our generation, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, were competing. Sharing locker rooms with them and simply being there was better than a dream, actually,” he added.
India’s Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Triumph
Sanju Samson also reflected on India’s victory at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, calling it a proud moment for the entire country. “We were all watching the final. My family members and everyone else were glued to the TV. It was a special moment for all of us in the country. We had been waiting for it for a long time. We knew we were capable of winning the World Cup, yet while we were so close, we were very far. I was very happy for all the players in the team. There was so much hard work behind it and so many great stories within the squad itself. It was a proud moment for all of us,” Samson said.
He added that the victory set high standards for the men’s team. “I think the standards were set very high for us. They won the World Cup and put us on a stage where we felt that we could do the same in India. It was a great moment that both World Cups happened in India and that we won them. So, yes, that victory definitely played a part.”
Looking Ahead to Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
When asked about India’s upcoming fixture against Australia in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Samson acknowledged the strength of the opposition. “A lot of respect goes to the Australian team. I think the reason we hold them in such high regard is that they were the most dominant cricketing nation when we were growing up. Every World Cup seemed to be won by Australia. But now, I think the roles have reversed. We are the champions, and we play and compete with the same attitude. So, yes, there is a lot of respect for them as an opponent,” he concluded.
