As the tennis world braces for another tournament Wimbledonindian wicketkeeper batsman Sanzhou Samson It draws interesting parallels between some of cricket’s biggest 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 Turf Professionals, Samson was asked which cricketer most resembled the tennis legend Roger Federer. The Kerala batsman immediately pointed the finger at former India captain MS Dhoni, citing the effortless grace and composure of both sporting superstars.“The Roger Federer of cricket? It has to be MS Dhoni. The way he handles things is very calm and composed. When he performs, it looks effortless but very powerful,” Samson told JioStar.Samson also sees similarities between the two Virat Kohli and Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, emphasizing the aggressive and dynamic nature of their game.“On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz is very explosive, just like Virat bhai was when he started. Maybe Virat Kohli can be compared to Alcaraz. He is very aggressive, full of power and explosiveness.”The India batsman also recalled a landmark period in Indian cricket when the women’s team lifted the ODI World Cup for the first time, just months after the men’s team won the T20 World Cup on home soil.“We are all watching the final. My family and others are glued to the TV. This is a special moment for all of us in this country. We have been waiting for a long time,” said Samson, who was named the best player of the tournament.“We know we have what it takes to win the World Cup and while we’re close, we’re still far away. I’m really happy for all the players in the squad. There’s a lot of hard work behind it and there’s a lot of great stories in the squad itself. This is a proud moment for all of us.“I think the bar was set very high for us. They won the World Cup and put us on a stage where we felt we could do the same thing in India. It was a great moment, both World Cups were in India and we won them. So, yes, this win definitely played a role.”The Indian women’s team is currently in England for the T20 World Cup and preparing to take on six-time champions Australia, and Samson acknowledged the legacy of the Australian team while pointing out how India’s status has changed over the years.“There’s a lot of respect for the Australian team. I think the reason we hold them in such high regard is that when we were growing up, they were the most dominant cricketing nation.“Every World Cup seems to be won by Australia. But now, I think the roles have been reversed. We are the champions and we play and compete with the same attitude. So, yes, they have a lot of respect as opponents.”former indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna He also weighed in on Wimbledon, naming defending champion Jannik Sinner as his favorite for the men’s singles title and Elena Rybakina as his favorite for the women’s singles title.“It’s a difficult question; the field is so open. But I have to choose defending champion Jannik Sinner for the men’s race. In the women’s race, I would pick Elena Rybakina,” he said.Bopanna also spoke about Wimbledon’s special place in his career and memory.“Wimbledon is a magical dream because I grew up watching only Wimbledon. At home, we only watched Wimbledon. In fact, Wimbledon was only shown on TV.“So, for me, it was absolutely amazing to be able to go there and not only be there but play on those courts. I also played in that era with three of the greatest tennis players of our generation, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovicis competing.“It’s actually better than a dream to share the dressing room with them and be there.”
