A Study in Composure

Indian women's cricket team all-rounder Deepti Sharma has drawn a fascinating comparison between two of the greatest sporting icons in the world: former Indian captain MS Dhoni and tennis legend Novak Djokovic. Speaking during her first visit to Wimbledon, Sharma highlighted the rare ability both athletes possess to remain calm and collected under extreme pressure.

Sharma emphasized that mental strength is the defining characteristic of both the 24-time Grand Slam champion and the legendary wicketkeeper-batter. "When you talk about Djokovic, everyone speaks about his mental strength. He is someone who never gives up, no matter how tough the situation is," she told Jio Hotstar.

Linking this to the cricketing world, she added, "In cricket, I think MS Dhoni sir is very similar. He is known for being very cool and calm. Whenever pressure situations come, he handles them really well. It never looks like he is in a difficult situation. He handles pressure so easily."

Wimbledon Dreams and Inspirations

For Deepti, attending Wimbledon was a long-awaited goal. She described the experience as a "long-cherished dream," noting the stark difference between watching the tournament on television and experiencing the atmosphere, crowd, and energy live at the iconic venue.

While she grew up admiring greats like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Sharma revealed that Djokovic has become her favorite player due to his resilience. "The way he fights on the court, his mental strength, and his never-give-up attitude, I really admire all of that," she explained.

Dream Companions for the Courts

When asked who from the Indian sporting fraternity she would want to accompany her to the tennis championships, Sharma chose three pillars of Indian cricket: Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri, and Sunil Gavaskar.

She noted that their vast knowledge of sports would make the experience even more enriching, stating that she would love to hear their analysis and thoughts while watching the matches live.