10 Cricketers and their favorite football stars

Nowadays sports is considered as a catalyst for the young generation. Particularly football which has a large fanbase and some of the individuals have motivated an entire country with their awe-inspiring performances. Similarly, even though cricket doesn’t have the popularity of soccer it is not short of influential stories. Several players have encouraged the upcoming stars to take up the game.

Especially in the last two decades a lot of cricketers have made it to the big stage by idolizing their sporting heroes. Among them, certain players have been influenced by some of the famous football stars. Though it is a different game they have inherited good qualities from their idols which have helped them become successful in their game.

Here is the list of 10 cricketers and their favorite football stars

1) Virat Kohli – Cristiano Ronaldo

The cricketing fraternity is running out of adjectives to explain the sheer dominance of Virat Kohli. It seems he has redefined the professionalism of the gentlemen’s game. Not only he has set a new benchmark for the upcoming Indian talents he has become a role model for the youngsters around the world.

Since his debut, he has been breaking batting records for fun and within a decade he has joined an elite panel. Besides his success, he has also taken Indian cricket to a new level with his leadership qualities. Seeing his passion and dedication for the game it should not come as a surprise that he is an ardent follower of footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese star is considered one of the greatest sportspersons of this century. His hard work and fitness regime has awed the fans including Virat. Many times the Indian skipper has confirmed that Ronaldo has inspired him. Recently he shared the screen with him in an American Tourister commercial which must have been a fanboy moment for Kohli.

2) AB de Villiers – Lionel Messi

If one has to coin a simple nickname for Ab De Villiers it has to be ” Dr. FeelGood ” as he supplies dope, cricketing action in the purest form. The South African cricketer has added new pages to the batting textbook. Such is his audacity that the crowd cheers him even if he is representing the opposition camp.

De Villiers is a rare batsman who can send shivers down the spine of the best of the bowling attacks. His presence on the field will never end up in dull moments whether it is his ingenious hitting or athletic fielding. He has invariably entertained the audience like his favorite football star, Lionel Messi.

With his style of play, the Argentinian is known as a magician in the soccer field. No matter his rivals’ net same number of goals but he will always rule the roost with his supreme footballing skills. He has got millions of admirers including De Villiers. According to ABD, Messi plays the game in the right spirit and can win games singlehandedly for his side.

3) Rohit Sharma – David Beckham

There are batsmen who can stack up centuries with their grit and determination and then there is Rohit Sharma who can pile on double centuries effortlessly. The Mumbaikar’s batting elegance personifies the beauty aspect of the gentlemen’s game. He is a talent who will always have a special place in the hearts of the cricketing community.

Hitman may not be the frontrunner in terms of complete batsman but some of his shots can be recorded and played on a loop. Especially his range hitting in white-ball cricket is nothing short of a spectacle. Sharma is mostly remembered for his stylish striking like his footballing hero, David Beckham.

In his playing days, the Englishman was one of the hottest properties in the sporting world. His charismatic personality and on-field skills attracted fans around the globe and one of them was Rohit. Time and again he has shown ample support for Real Madrid, a club where Beckham has spent some of the golden days of his career. Unfortunately, Sharma has also shared his regret of not owning any of his jerseys.

4) Jofra Archer – Wayne Rooney

In recent months the cricketer who has been making the front pages is none other than Jofra Archer. From his World Cup heroics to Ashes’ success the fast-bowler has taken giant strides in his short international stint. He has been termed the next generation superstar who is expected to carry the burden of the English bowling group.

The speedster has shown a lot of promise and if everything goes well then he will end up as one of the greatest cricketers to have played the game. Archer is an individual who likes to remain in the thick of things. As stated by him it is a quality which he has inherited from his childhood hero, Wayne Rooney.

The former England striker is one of the best footballers the country has produced and in his prime, he was a goal-scoring machine. He had the insane ability to tear apart defensive attacks of opposition and it impressed Archer in his young days. In the most unexpected manner, he became a fan of Rooney from Playstation. His shooting skills coupled with his highest rating in the game of FIFA awed the fast-bowling sensation.

5) Ravichandran Ashwin – Diego Maradona

India has always been home to world-class spinners and Ravichandran Ashwin is right on top of that list. The Chennai cricketer is known for engineering pricky variations in the traditional off-spin bowling. Although he has received a lot of criticism for his unpredictability he has also found success with his methods which has resulted in more than 500 international wickets.

With Ashwin around the fans can be sure of exciting cricket and that’s the reason why he is even rated highly by his peers. A smart cricketing brain is his biggest weapon and it is equally complimented by his immense self-belief. He is a player who is unfazed in tough situations and it is a characteristic he might have picked up from Argentinian legend, Diego Maradona.

The short-statured footballer defied all the odds to etch his name in the history books. His aggressive playmaking skills are part of folklore and it also captivated Ashwin in his youth. In one of the interviews, he has confirmed that Maradona is his favorite footballer. He further added that he lost some respect for him after his controversial choices but still loved his craftmanship.

6) Mohammad Amir – Sergio Aguero

It can be rightly said that Mohammad Amir is a precious gem carved out from the mines of Pakistan which is full of fast-bowling minerals. The speedster was an instant success at the international level until the tragedy hit in the form of a match-fixing scandal. After serving the ban he returned with a renewed vigor and is still a potent force for the Men in Green.

Every now and then Amir has bowled fiery spells which have stunned the cricketing circle. He is a bowler who can turn the tide in matter of overs irrespective of the type of surface he is operating on. The pacer can raise his game when the team is in need and a similar quality can be associated with his favorite football star, Sergio Aguero.

Whether it is for his national team or club the Argentinian has invariably remained in the shadow of other stars of the side. He is a player who has never got enough praise for his work ethic and consistency. Aguero has found very few supporters in his journey and Amir is one of them and he revealed it in one of the segments of ESPNCricinfo. Apart from that he also wished to lift the FIFA World Cup.

7) Moeen Ali – Fernando Torress

An absolute gentleman and player who is ready to sacrifice his comfort zone for the sake of the team. No need to wonder what I am talking about England all-rounder, Moeen Ali who is an unrated cricketer from the British camp. Most of the times he has accepted the challenges with a warm smile and has become a genuine match-winner for the side.

Ali has been a trusted sepoy of the Three Lions Army and his performances in the last couple of years have helped the side win trophies. He is a tough character who has stood up for the team in do-or-die situations and even his numbers suggest the same. Whether it is batting or bowling he likes to attack and it might be an influence of Fernando Torres.

The Spanish striker is known for netting goals from difficult positions. He has plied his trade around the globe including for Liverpool in the English Premier League. It turns that Moeen is a big fan of the Reds and also admitted that Torres was his blue-eyed boy. According to him, the 2005 Champions League final was the most memorable game as a Liverpool supporter.

8) Jasprit Bumrah – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

For long the Indian fans have been praying for a world-class fast-bowler and then their prayers were answered in the form of Jasprit Bumrah. At 25 the youngster is already leading the bowling attack of the country. With his talent and temperament, he is surely going to entertain the audience in the coming years.

What’s more fascinating is his composure under pressure and time and again he has responded positively to his captain’s call. Jasprit has the ability to deliver match-defining moments regularly. He is known for surprising his opponents with his bag of tricks and the same can be said about his personal choices as he is a die-hard fan of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The renowned Swedish star is one of the stylish personalities to step on the football field. Throughout his career, he has been a fan favorite and it seems his story has inspired Bumrah. He often posts motivational quotes regarding Zlatan in his social media accounts. One of the messages read that he wishes to have a charismatic personality like him and he never misses to wish his idol on his birthdays.

9) Graeme Smith – Steven Gerrard

The South African cricket is thoroughly indebted to their former skipper, Graeme Smith. Not only he shouldered the responsibilities of the side in the most testing times he made them a cricketing powerhouse under his captaincy. With Smith as their leader, the Proteas regained their glory days in the last decade.

The southpaw was also an efficient contributor in the batting department. Though he was unable to surprise the cricketing fraternity with his stroke-making he was piling on runs while opening the innings in Test cricket. He was a gritty customer who stood up for the team in every possible situation and he might have learned it from his idol, Steven Gerrard.

The Englishman is a highly respected footballer in the world. His ability to play according to the needs of the team defined his greatness. During his prime, he led the Liverpool side to great heights and eventually he became a role model for many young athletes. Smith is one of his many admirers and Steven’s presence in the Reds camp made him a permanent Liverpool well-wisher.

10) Michael Clarke – Tim Cahill

In cricket to succeed at the international level, a player needs to have a strong mental fortitude. One such prime example is Michael Clarke as he overcame several career-threatening injuries to join the elite list of Australian cricketers. He even led the nation for a considerable time including in the 2015 World Cup where the nation lifted the trophy for the record-breaking 5th time.

The right-hander was destined for big things and he proved it in his debut series against India. After that, he slowly became a batting mainstay for the Kangaroos and churned out runs in some of the toughest conditions. In the latter part of his journey, he guided the future stars of the team including Steve Smith. It is quite similar to Tim Cahill’s contribution to the Australian football team.

Tim may not have the aura of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi but he has been a pillar of strength for the national side. He had the potential to strike at important stages and that’s why he is the leading goal-scorer for the country in World Cups. As admitted by Clarke in a Q&A session on twitter he has enormous respect for his fellow countrymen, Cahill. He puts him in the same bracket as Steven Gerrard.

Some of these cricketers have followed the footsteps of their favorite football stars and now they have their inspirational tales for the next generation.