Sanju Samson, India's wicketkeeper-batter, has drawn a striking parallel between cricket and tennis royalty — likening MS Dhoni to the elegance of Roger Federer and Virat Kohli to the explosive energy of Carlos Alcaraz. Samson made the comparison in remarks aired on JioStar, timed ahead of Wimbledon 2025, which gets underway on 29 June at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

The Dhoni-Federer and Kohli-Alcaraz Parallels

'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.

On Kohli, he added: '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.' The analogy captures two distinct schools of cricketing greatness — Dhoni's stillness under pressure mirroring Federer's unhurried mastery, and Kohli's intensity echoing Alcaraz's raw, relentless drive.

Women's World Cup Win as Motivation for Men's Team

Samson also revealed that the Indian women's cricket team's landmark 2025 ODI World Cup triumph under captain Harmanpreet Kaur served as a 'huge motivation' for the men's squad ahead of their own 2026 Men's T20 World Cup campaign — which India went on to win on home soil.

'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,' Samson said.

Samson himself played a pivotal role in India's 2026 Men's T20 World Cup victory, smashing three consecutive half-centuries to claim the coveted Player of the Tournament award. '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 added.

India vs Australia at Lord's: Respect, Not Fear

Looking ahead to India's clash against six-time champions Australia in the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup — scheduled at Lord's on 28 June — Samson was measured but confident. '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,' he said.

'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.' The remarks reflect a broader shift in Indian cricket's self-perception — from perennial challengers to a side that expects to win global tournaments.

What This Signals for Indian Cricket

Samson's reflections underscore a generational confidence within the Indian setup. With back-to-back World Cup wins on home soil — women's and men's — the team has entered a new phase where the psychological weight of 'nearly there' has been replaced by a culture of expectation. Whether that carries through in the women's T20 campaign at Lord's on 28 June remains to be seen.