Madhurima
NEW DELHI: Former Australian cricket player, known as the Speedster, Brett Lee believes Virat Kohli can surpass the extraordinary feat of "god" Sachin Tendulkar.
"We are talking about phenomenal numbers here, so you mentioned seven to eight years of cricket and at the rate, he (Virat Kohli) goes, yes, he can definitely knock it off," Lee said while speaking on Star Sports ‘Cricket Connected' show.
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Lee, who played 76 Tests, 221 ODIs and 25 T20Is for Australia, however, added that it still won't be easy to overtake Tendulkar's massive record.
"But, how are you able to say someone can go past Sachin Tendulkar -- this is God here, can someone go better than God, we'll wait and see," the 43-year-old said.
Sachin started out when he played his first match against Pakistan at Karachi in 1989 as a 16-year old. The batsman, known as the master blaster went on to play 200 Tests for India, scoring 100 centuries across Tests and ODIs. In 463 ODIs, Tendulkar scored 18,426 runs including 49 tons and in Tests, he has 15,921 runs to his name including 51 centuries.
Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 44 ODI?hundreds and 27 Test tons to date in his career and is simply 29 centuries far from equalling Tendulkar's feat.
According to Lee, three factors work in favour of the present India captain in surpassing Tendulkar's cricketing feats.
"It comes right down to three things, there's one thing I'd like to eliminate - so, you mention talent as a batsman, he's definitely got that talent, eliminate that first and foremost," he said.
"Then fitness - Virat Kohli possesses that fitness, so for me, it's all about fitness at the age of 30 and also that mental strength, the brainpower to get through those hardships, being far away from home, from his wife, or after they will have children.
"He will do it easily with his talent, it comes right down to his mental strength and if he stays fit enough and that I believe he possesses all those three components to go past Sachin," the former fast bowler added.
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On Friday, Lee had termed Tendulkar a legend and wrote: "Happy birthday legend Sachin Tendulkar. although the battles on the cricket field have now ceased, the friendships will last forever! Stay safe mate and have a wonderful celebration."
