Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has provided insights into his experiences facing Indian cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma at various points in their careers. Lee reflected on the unique qualities that made each of these batsmen formidable opponents.
During an appearance on the Ranveer Allahbadia Show, Lee humorously recounted the difficulties of trying to dismiss Tendulkar, often considered one of the greatest batsmen. He mentioned an incident at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where Tendulkar appeared to misjudge a delivery. Lee also joked that his strategy for getting Tendulkar out involved prayer and visualisation, though he did manage to dismiss him on several occasions.
Lee expressed regret that newer generations of fans have not had the opportunity to witness Tendulkar play during his career, encouraging them to seek out footage of his matches. He highlighted Tendulkar’s significant influence on Indian cricket.
Identifying Potential in Kohli
Lee also shared his early observations of a young Virat Kohli, noting that he identified a special quality in the Indian batter even before Kohli rose to prominence in world cricket. When asked if he anticipated Kohli’s eventual success, Lee affirmed that he could discern it in Kohli’s eyes.
According to Lee, certain athletes possess a distinct mental strength that enables them to maintain a higher level of focus compared to others. He observed this intense presence in Kohli from his early days, describing how Kohli would look directly at opponents with a competitive mindset, as if conveying, “you aren’t going to get me out.” Lee believes this same quality persists in Kohli today, referring to him as “the same tiger.”
Lee defended Kohli against ongoing criticism that often follows less successful performances, particularly in the era of social media. He argued that comparisons across different cricketing generations are unfair due to the evolving pressures faced by players. Lee noted that while previous generations, such as Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, dealt with media scrutiny, Kohli faces an additional layer of pressure from social media, where public opinion can be swift and often critical.
Lee dismissed the notion that Kohli is past his prime if he has a low-scoring game, urging critics to consider his overall record, which he described as “impeccable” and “incredible.”
Rohit Sharma’s Aggression and India’s Transformation
Rohit Sharma was another Indian batsman praised by Lee, who named him among his favourite players to watch, particularly appreciating his pull shot. Lee recalled facing a young Rohit early in his career and was immediately struck by his aggression and refusal to back down.
This attitude, according to Lee, was indicative of a broader transformation within Indian cricket around the early 2000s. He noted that during this period, the Indian team began to display increased confidence when competing against leading international sides. Lee suggested that while other teams might have previously underestimated India, this changed as India started to assert itself more forcefully.
Lee attributed a significant role in this transformation to India’s focus on fitness and technique. He credited former India captain Sourav Ganguly for his contributions to this shift, while also acknowledging Tendulkar’s part in it. Lee believes the impact of that generation is still visible in the current Indian team, stating that “this team’s carrying over Kohli’s legacy.” He also commented on the immense celebrity status of India’s top cricketers, likening them to “Bollywood stars with cricket whites on.”
Separately, Lee weighed in on the debate about the greatest cricketer of all time, selecting Jacques Kallis over Sachin Tendulkar. While Lee considers Tendulkar the finest batsman he ever witnessed, he distinguishes between the best batsman and the most complete cricketer. Lee pointed to Kallis’s statistics, highlighting his achievement as the only cricketer to have scored over 10,000 runs and taken more than 250 wickets in both Test and ODI cricket. Lee’s assessment also draws from his experience as a teammate of Kallis during three IPL seasons with the Kolkata Knight Riders from 2011 to 2013.
He recalled Kallis’s remarkably calm demeanor before batting, noting his low heart rate and meticulous pre-batting routine, which included putting on his left sock first and holding the other in his mouth. Kallis concluded his Test career with 13,289 runs and 292 wickets from 166 matches, alongside 11,579 runs and 273 wickets in 328 ODI matches, and 200 catches in Tests. Tendulkar’s career included 34,357 international runs and 100 centuries across 664 matches.
Source: businesstoday.in
