If Cricket Was American Football: The Crossover of The Two Sports

Today, we’re going to look at the off chance that cricket was American football! Why, you ask? Well, as a professional team covering all aspects of fantasy sports, we don’t find it too hard to fantasize about a sport crossover at all.

We’re not going to limit our article to recent players. We’re going all in, and we hope you love the time and effort we’ve put into finding out these similarities of playstyle and character!

Without further ado, let’s get right into it.

Top 5 Crossovers of Cricket and American Football

First of all, we will talk about five of the most popular cricketers who resemble American football players in some way. And what better way to start our dive into this crossover than with Virat Kohli and Patrick Mahomes?!

1. Patrick Mahomes (Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs) and Virat Kohli (Batsman, India)

Both Patrick Mahomes and Virat Kohli are nothing short of superstars in their respective sports all over the world.

Just like how Mahomes is known for his incredible arm strength, accuracy, and his ability to make truly exceptional throws from a variety of angles (even on the move!)—Virat Kohli is also renowned for his exceptional batting technique, consistency and, most importantly, his ability to play aggressive strokes all around the ground in all angles!

In fact, if Viral Kohli played in the NFL or if Mahomes had to play cricket, we strongly think they’d be nearly interchangeable.

2. Tyreek Hill (Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs) and Andre Russell (All-Rounder, West Indies)

Tyreek Hill is widely known for his lightning-fast speed and exceptional agility. In fact, his maneuvers are out of this world. And that’s where our comparison comes in.

He’s one of the fastest players in the NFL. In fact, if you were to really compare the stats, you’ll find that Tyreek Hill ranks #1 in the list of the top 10 fastest players of NFL. He’s a versatile receiver and highly capable of creating game-changing moments on the field.

He can outrun the defenders and create separation that’s not usual in NFL. This has even given him the nickname “The Cheetah.”

Our cricket equivalent to Hill is Andre Russel from West Indies. He’s an all-rounder and, like Russell, renowned for his extraordinary athleticism and blazing speed on the cricket field.

As a dynamic all-rounder, he excels in both batting and bowling and proves to be a game-changer with his quick runs and powerful hitting.

Now, it’s true that you cannot compare American football’s running with the running involved in cricket, but if we had to, this is the ideal comparison between two fast all-rounders who can turn the tides in favor of their team.

And just like Hill’s speed can turn a simple play into a touchdown, Russell’s aggressive battling can fast-paced bowling can make his team win a match in a matter of overs! Both are known for their performance that cannot be said to be anything less than “explosive.”

3. Aaron Donald (Defensive Tackle, Los Angeles Rams) and Jasprit Bumrah (Fast Bowler, India)

Aaron Donald is an overwhelmingly dominant force on the field, especially on the defensive line. He’s known for his explosive power and the ability to disrupt opposing offenses. Just like that, Jasprit Bumrah of the Indian cricket team can be a game-changer in his own matches with his fast and somewhat deceptive bowling.

Bumrah is also capable of delivering devastating spells and breaking through batting lineups, not quite unlike Donald. And just like how Donald helped shape philosophies, Bumrah also helped steer his team toward better success.

4. Derrick Henry (Running Back, Tennessee Titans) and Chris Gayle (Batsman, West Indies)

Anybody who has watched football will say that Henry is a powerful and explosive running back. He often bulldozes through defensive lines with his sheer strength and speed. Similarly to that, Chris Gayle from West Indies is also known for his powerful and explosive batting and ability to hit massive sixes.

Gayle has the nickname of “Universe Boss” in cricket for a reason—And if there’s anyone who can take his place from the world of American football, then it’s Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans!

Here’s a full profile of Chris Gayle.

5. Lamar Jackson (Quarterback, Baltimore Ravens) and Rashid Khan (Leg-Spin Bowler, Afghanistan)

Lamar Jackson is known especially for his amazing agility and elusive running style. They make him one of the most dynamic and action-packed quarterbacks in the NFL. Talking about cricket, Rashid Khan’s quick and deceptive leg-spin bowling has made him quite the standout performer.

Khan has often bamboozled batsmen with his variations and skill like Jackson, but did you know that Bills Mafia once donated $300K to the QB’s favorite charity?

Wrapping Up

These comparisons are made based on the players’ similar impact on their respective fields and their ability to bring excitement to fans. It’s not to be taken as a comparison of traits literally—As the players play two entirely different games with different rules and strategies.

Hopefully, you had fun with our comparison between cricket and American football. Let us know what other comparisons you’d make!