MS Dhoni is Roger Federer of cricket; Virat Kohli's aggression and explosiveness mirrors Carlos Alcaraz: Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson will be in action for India when they play Ireland and England in T20Is.

India keeper-batter Sanju Samson was asked to equate cricketers to footballers and was given names like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. With the world's finest tennis stars preparing to battle for glory at Wimbledon, Samson drew comparisons between the tennis and cricket legends.

Samson said that legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni is similar to tennis great Roger Federer, while Virat Kohli’s explosive style is similar to current tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz.

"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. 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 told JioStar.

In a few months, India made history when the men's team won the T20 World Cup at home, and the women's team won their first ODI World Cup.

Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India's victorious campaign and scored three consecutive fifty-plus runs, claimed that the men were motivated by the women's team's victory.

"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 on 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, who was the T20 World Cup 2026 Player of the Tournament, said.

"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 added.

Reflecting on the challenge posed by Australia, Samson said: "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."

Samson will be in action when India takes on Ireland in two T20Is and England in five T20Is starting June 26.

(PTI inputs)