![MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1782203046460_MSDHONIANDVIRATKOHLI.jpg?type=hq)
MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli [Source: AFP]
T20 World Cup-winning star and Player of the Tournament, Sanju Samson, recently named MS Dhoni as the Roger Federer of cricket.
For those unfamiliar with tennis, Roger Federer is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history. During his illustrious career, he won 103 ATP singles titles and 20 Grand Slam men’s singles titles.
Speaking ahead of one of tennis’ most prestigious Grand Slam tournaments, Wimbledon, which is set to take place from June 29 to July 12, Samson shared his thoughts during a conversation with India’s former tennis star Rohan Bopanna on JioHotstar.
MS Dhoni Named Cricket's Roger Federer
As the tournament approaches, Bopanna and Sanju Samson discussed the significance of Wimbledon and their predictions for the men’s and women’s singles titles.
During the conversation, Samson was asked which cricketer best resembled tennis legend Roger Federer.
“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.
Notably, Roger Federer and MS Dhoni share several similar characteristics. Just as Federer dominated tennis through unmatched precision and effortless control, Dhoni anchored Indian cricket with ice-cool finishing and elite tactical awareness.
This mental fortitude guided India to three major ICC titles, the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy, cementing a shared legacy of grace under pressure.
Also Read: Dhoni, Rohit, Kohli Set Aside! Sreesanth Picks India’s Greatest Captain
Virat Kohli Compared To Carlos Alcaraz By Sanju Samson
Meanwhile, Samson made an interesting comparison when speaking about Virat Kohli. He compared Virat Kohli to young Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz, citing similarities in their aggressive and explosive playing styles.
“Carlos Alcaraz, on the other hand, is very explosive, much like how Virat Kohli bhai started. Maybe Virat Kohli can be compared to Carlos Alcaraz. He is very aggressive and full of power and explosiveness," he said.
Notably, Carlos Alcaraz is one of the biggest stars in modern tennis. The young star has won 26 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including seven Grand Slam titles and eight ATP Masters 1000 crowns.
It is worth mentioning that the Spaniard has also been ranked World No. 1 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and finished as the year-end No. 1 in both 2022 and 2025.
Sanju Samson Reflects On India's T20 World Cup Win
Apart from this, Sanju Samson also reflected on India’s recent T20 World Cup 2026 triumph and the excitement that gripped the nation during the title-winning campaign.
“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,” Samson said.
Notably, India won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
With this victory, India became the first team in history to win the T20 World Cup in consecutive editions and the first to win the tournament on home soil.
A significant contribution came from Sanju Samson, who enjoyed a spectacular campaign and finished as the Player of the Tournament. He accumulated 252 runs in just four innings at an outstanding average of 84.00 and a staggering strike rate of 196.87.
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