10 cricketers and their football equivalents

All these years sports has helped different groups of people connect with each other. Particularly football which has millions of followers around the globe. The footballers are admired for their accomplishments and they are treated like demigods. Likewise in India, the audience breathes cricket and it has become a part of their daily life. It is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world.

Though both football and cricket require a different set of skills the professionalism is quite similar. Players are extremely hard-working and their work ethics are praiseworthy. They are often deemed as the role-models for the coming generation. Above all these personalities have many things in common which makes them each other’s alter ego.

Here is the list of 10 cricketers and their football equivalents

1. Virat Kohli – Cristiano Ronaldo

There is no denying the fact that Virat Kohli is the modern-day maverick of gentlemen’s game. The Indian skipper has reached the top-tier with his sheer determination and flat-out efforts. He has taken the Indian cricket to great heights with his leadership skills and batting prowess.

The Delhi cricketer has already piled on more than 20,000 international runs and his hunger is yet to be satisfied. Another quality which makes him stand out from the rest is his consistency, an attribute also associated with the Portuguese football star, Cristiano Ronaldo. Since the last decade, the goal-soring machine has been ruling the world.

Both Kohli and Ronaldo have worked extremely hard on their fitness on their path to greatness. They raise the bar of their game each time they step on the field. Similarly, these stars have the habit of letting down the team in knock-out games. Still, their aura has helped him gain immense popularity amongst the fans.

2) AB De Villiers – Lionel Messi

In layman terms, AB De Villiers is a cricketing genius of this generation. The South African was admired by the fans around the world as his batting was nothing short of a spectacle. Some of his shots defied the laws of Physics and his Superman efforts brought aura to the game.

What made De Villiers more special was his ability to play without getting affected by the situation of the game. Even on tough surfaces, he made the batting look easy which is similar to the craftsmanship of Lionel Messi on the football field. The superstar from Argentina has always attracted attention with his goal-scoring and playmaking skills.

Like De Villiers, Messi is considered one of the best to have played the game. More than the numbers they are remembered for their artistry on the field. Likewise, both the players have failed to inspire their side in global events and a lot of issues surrounded their early retirement. Eventually, Messi returned to the game and one cannot turn down the possibility of ABD return.

3) Steve Smith – Luis Suarez

The former Australian skipper is termed as one of the modern-day greats and his batting records speak volumes. Especially in the classic format Steve Smith is next to unstoppable. He has a batting average of 62 which is the second-best after Sir Donald Bradman. Even in white-ball cricket, he has stamped his authority on various occasions.

Smith is one of the few players who have succeeded in the international circuit with his unique style of play. He has an uncanny ability to score runs from unusual positions and it is a quality which is also seen in the game of Uruguayan kahuna, Luis Suarez. He is a player who is often praised for his technical aspects and striking skills.

In his career, Suarez has played the lead role and support cast equally well and the same can be said about Smith. Both the stars have struggled to keep controversies away from their game. Still, they have made a strong comeback after each banishment and have proved their mettle again.

4) David Warner – Mohamed Salah

A month ago the cricketing fraternity witnessed a champion player guiding his team in the 2019 World Cup. Yes, it is none other than Australian cricketer, David Warner who was creating batting records for fun. His growth in the international circuit was evident as he scored more than 600 runs including 3 centuries in the 12th edition of the championship.

Since his debut in 2009, David has been a standout performer for the Kangaroos. He has single-handedly won many games for the team and that’s where he is similar to Egypt’s football star, Mohamed Salah. Currently, he is one of the leading footballers in the world and has inspired many youngsters in the country to take up the game.

Salah was the highest goal-scorer for his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and it can be easily related to Warner’s 2019 World Cup heroics. They have enhanced their reputation in the sporting leagues around the world. They are the national heroes of their respective countries and have also led their side eminently.

5) Kane Williamson – Luka Modric

The New Zealand cricket team received a lot of praise for their sportsmanship after their heartbreaking loss in the 2019 World Cup. At the centre of it was their skipper, Kane Williamson who did everything possible to take his team to glory. In the last couple of years, he has been marshalling the side brilliantly.

Along with his leadership skills he has become a batting mainstay for the Black Caps. Still what separates him from his counterparts is his discipline on the field and he has set a perfect example in the gentlemen’s game. Due to all these attributes, he has a striking resemblance to the Croatian football star, Luka Modric. He was the captain when the nation reached the finals in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Modric has always been an unsung hero in the soccer field. His defence is rock-solid which has weathered many attacking teams and it is analogous to Williamson’s watertight batting technique. While playing they both maintain a calm demeanour which has helped their team focus on their game. Their respect for the game is unmatched which is a learning for youngsters.

6) Ben Stokes – Mesut Ozil

By winning the 50 overs World Cup the Brits won the biggest prize in their cricketing history Ben Stokes has become England’s hero. The all-rounder has been a trump card for the team and his skills have taken the side to a new level. He is a cricketer who never backs down from challenges and has stood up whenever the team required him.

Stokes is a charismatic character and it has helped him become one of the best cricketers in the current scenario. He can change the course of the match with his versatile game and that’s why he can be compared to the German footballer, Mesut Ozil. The attacking midfielder was one of the heroes when the nation won its fourth World Cup in 2014.

Ozil’s style of play makes him a hot commodity in the football world. His assist and goal-scoring skills are similar to Ben’s all-round abilities. Their careers have also been marred by various controversies. Stunningly when Stokes missed the mark in 2016 WT20 final Ozil cost the team the Euro Cup in the same year by missing the penalty.

7) Jasprit Bumrah – Ederson Moraes

Nowadays the Indian team has a fearsome fast bowling attack and its spearhead is Jasprit Bumrah. The speedster has awed the cricketing fraternity with his unique action coupled with his bag of tricks. His arrival has changed the dynamics of the side as now Virat Kohli’s men are winning more games with their bowling power.

The 25-year old is potent on all surfaces as he can trouble the opposition with his raw pace. Bumrah is a quick learner, a quality that has contributed to his international success. Surprisingly his career graph is quite similar to Brazilian star, Ederson Moraes. He has helped Manchester City win two consecutive Premier League titles with his efficient goalkeeping.

In simple terms, Ederson is a complete package like Bumrah and in the last couple of years, they have improved leaps and bounds. Both of them have easily adjusted to different situations. They are praised for their composure and decision-making skills. While Bumrah is called the death over specialist Ederson is known as a penalty saving specialist.

8) Fakhar Zaman – Neymar Jr.

Pakistan cricket is never short of characters and one such individual is Fakhar Zaman. Currently, the left-hander is one of the leading batsmen of Men in Green. He is the only Pakistan player to stroke a double century in ODIs. When on song, he is a destructive player who can tear apart any bowling attack with his belligerent striking.

Fakhar’s immense self-belief has made him a successful white-ball player. Irrespective of the situation the southpaw always plays his natural game and that’s why he can be related to the Brazilian forward, Neymar Jr. He is rated as one of the most explosive players on the soccer field with his agility and dribbling moves.

Neymar can rip through the best of the defence unit with his playmaking expertise. He was the hero when the nation won the 2013 Confederations Cup and it is similar to the match-winning efforts of Fakhar in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. Neymar is known for his ability to play with both feet and it corresponds to Zaman’s nimble feet movement to play big shots.

9) Jofra Archer – Kylian Mbappe

The England team has found a new bowling sensation in the form of Jofra Archer. Recently the tall fast-bowler showed the glimpses of his talent. The speedster quickly rose in the pecking order and now looks a long term prospect for the English side. His control over his craft has caught the attention of many cricketing pundits.

With his pace and ability to move the ball, Archer can be a lethal weapon on any kind of surface. His simple action also aids him in repeating the same process. Above all, it is his calmness on the field, a characteristic which can be also associated with French footballer, Kylian Mbappe. He has been termed as a rising star of the game.

At 20 Mbappe has already stunned the world with his technical skills and creativity on the field. He has a striking similarity with Archer as both won their first World Cup at a very young age. They are often praised for their athleticism. While Jofra is known for his death bowling skills Kylian is famous for his finishing touches.

10) Rohit Sharma – Gareth Bale

Over the years the Indian team has given some ingenious talents to the cricketing world and Rohit Sharma is right on top of that list. His batting grace is a thing of beauty. Some of his strokes are enjoyed by the fans on a loop and his class separates him from the rest. He can also play the attacking shots with the same poise.

On top of that now Sharma’s consistency has made him one of the greats in white ball-cricket. When in full flow Hitman can hammer best of the bowlers with ease and the aura corresponds to Gareth Bale’s football striking. The Welshman has charmed the world with his offensive capabilities and athleticism.

Bale is the highest scorer for Wales with 31 international goals. His career reached a new high when he was promoted to winger position and it is similar to Rohit’s push to the top of the order. Bale’s free-kicks consist of the same elegance as that of Sharma’s pull shots. For most of their careers, both of them remained in the shadow of respective stars of the side, Cristiano Ronaldo and Virat Kohli.