As the tennis world prepares for another edition WimbledonIndia wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson drew interesting parallels between some of cricket’s greatest icons and modern tennis stars, while also reflecting on India’s recent World Cup success and the challenges posed by Australia.Speaking ahead of the grass-court main event, Samson was asked which cricketer most resembled the tennis legend Roger Federer. The Kerala batsman immediately pointed to former India captain MS Dhoni, citing the effortless elegance and poise that defined both sporting greats.“Roger Federer in cricket? It has to be MS Dhoni. He is very calm and collected in the way he goes about his work. When he performs, he looks effortless but very powerful,” Samson told JioStar.Samson also saw similarities between Virat Kohli and Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz, highlighting the aggressive and dynamic nature of their games.“Carlos Alcaraz, on the other hand, is very explosive, similar to how Virat bhai started. Maybe Virat Kohli can be compared to Alcaraz. He is very aggressive and full of power and explosiveness.”The Indian batsman also reflected on a watershed period for Indian cricket when the women’s side lifted their first ODI World Cup before the men’s side achieved a T20 World Cup triumph on home soil just a few months later.“We all watched 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 were waiting for it for a long time,” said Samson, who was named the player of the tournament.“We knew we were capable of winning the World Cup, but while we were so close, we were very far away. 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 team itself. It was a proud moment for all of us.“I think the bar has been set very high for us. They won the World Cup and put us on a stage where we felt we could do the same in India. It was a great moment that both World Cups happened in India and we won them. So yes, that win definitely played a role.”With the Indian women’s team currently competing in the T20 World Cup in England and preparing to take on six-time champions Australia, Samson acknowledged the legacy of the Australian side, noting how India’s status has changed over the years.“A lot of respect goes to the Australian team. I think the reason we hold them in such high regard is because they became 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’re champions, we play and compete with the same attitude. So, yes, there’s a lot of respect for them as an opponent.”Former Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna also weighed in at Wimbledon, naming defending champion Jannik Sinner as his pick for the men’s singles crown and Elena Rybakina as his favorite for the women’s title.“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 the women, I’d go with Elena Rybakina,” he said.Bopanna also spoke about Wimbledon’s special place in his career and memories.“Wimbledon is a magical dream because I grew up watching only Wimbledon. At home we only watched Wimbledon. In fact, the TV only showed Wimbledon.“So for me it was amazing to go there and not only be there but play on those courts. I also played in an era when the three greatest tennis players of our generation, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovicthey competed.“Sharing the locker room with them and just being there was actually better than a dream.”
