India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has compared M.S. Dhoni’s style in cricket with Roger Federer’s presence in tennis, while likening Virat Kohli’s aggressive approach to Carlos Alcaraz. Samson made the comparisons while speaking about the links he sees between the two sports ahead of Wimbledon.
In comments to JioStar, Samson said Dhoni was the clear choice when asked who could be called the Roger Federer of cricket. His reason was not based on statistics, but on the way Dhoni carries himself on the field.
Samson on Dhoni’s calm style
“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.
The comparison is easy to understand from Samson’s explanation. Federer is often associated with a smooth and controlled style of play in tennis. Samson saw a similar quality in Dhoni’s cricket: calm decision-making, a composed presence, and performances that appear simple even when the situation is difficult.
Dhoni, a former India captain, has long been viewed as one of cricket’s most composed figures under pressure. Samson’s comment focused on that visible ease rather than making a direct comparison between achievements across two different sports.
Kohli compared with Alcaraz
Samson also spoke about Virat Kohli when asked about a cricketer who could be compared with Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. He pointed to the energy and power in Kohli’s early years as a reason for the comparison.
“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,” Samson said.
Alcaraz is known for his high-intensity tennis and attacking game. Samson connected that image with Kohli’s style, especially the force and aggression with which Kohli made his mark in international cricket.
The remarks came at a time when attention is turning to Wimbledon, where leading tennis players are preparing for one of the sport’s major events. Samson used that backdrop to reflect on how certain sporting qualities can be recognised across formats and disciplines.
World Cup wins and dressing-room belief
Samson also reflected on India’s recent World Cup success in the source interview. According to the report, India’s women’s team won its maiden ODI World Cup and the men’s team later lifted the T20 World Cup on home soil within a span of months.
Samson said the women’s team’s win had an effect on the men’s side. He recalled watching the final with his family and said the moment was special for the 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,” he said.
He also spoke about the effort behind the win and the sense of pride it created. Samson said India knew it had the ability to win a World Cup, but there was still a gap between being close and actually finishing the job.
“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.
Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s triumphant campaign after scoring three successive fifty-plus scores, said the women’s team’s achievement raised the standard for the men.
“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,” he said.
Samson’s comments stayed close to two simple ideas: the sporting personalities he sees across cricket and tennis, and the motivation India’s teams drew from each other during a successful period at home.
Source: The Hindu Cricket.