Brief
Brett Lee says Kohli and Root could topple Tendulkar’s batting records
Lee highlighted Kohli’s fitness and Root’s proximity to Tendulkar’s Test run tally as key factors.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee told the Khaleej Times that both Virat Kohli and England captain Joe Root are genuine threats to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic batting records.
What happened
Lee, who visited the Khaleej Times office in Dubai on 30 September 2026, was asked whether Kohli and Root could break Tendulkar’s milestones. He noted that Kohli, who recently scored his 86th international hundred in an ODI against the West Indies, still has 25‑30 ODIs left before his announced retirement after the 2027 World Cup. Root, at 35, is 1,643 runs short of Tendulkar’s Test total of 15,921.
What the reports add
The article provides Tendulkar’s career figures – 100 international centuries (51 in Tests, 49 in ODIs) and 15,921 Test runs – and contrasts them with Kohli’s current ODI tally of 15,080 runs from 315 matches at an average of 59.13. It also cites Root’s Test record of 14,278 runs from 169 matches at 50.45.
What was said
Lee said, “If there’s one guy that I would pick, it would be him (Kohli), because you talk about hunger — the way that he looks after his body, the way that he looks after his longevity, the way he trains… That’s why he’s such a great athlete,” as reported by Khaleej Times.
How it came about
Lee’s comments follow recent coverage of Kohli’s milestone runs, including Felo News’s article on 28 September 2026 about Kohli refuting comparisons with Tendulkar after reaching 15,000 ODI runs.
Key facts
- Sachin Tendulkar holds 100 international centuries and 15,921 Test runs. (khaleejtimes.com)
- Virat Kohli has 86 international hundreds and 15,080 ODI runs, with 25‑30 ODIs remaining before his 2027 World Cup retirement. (khaleejtimes.com)
- Joe Root is 1,643 runs behind Tendulkar’s Test total, with 14,278 runs from 169 Tests. (khaleejtimes.com)
- Brett Lee said he would not rule out Kohli’s chance to reach 100 international centuries. (khaleejtimes.com)
Sources
- [1] khaleejtimes.com — originally reported as “Tendulkar's records under threat from Kohli, Root? Brett Lee answers”
