Sachin Tendulkar (L) and Virat Kohli (R). Credit: BCCI
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Indian captain Virat Kohli is racing along rapidly to a host of records, having already created a lot many while he still has more than five years in international cricket. Among those Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 centuries also remains a feat that Virat Kohli might breach, which would be nothing more than historical. And Brad Hogg backs him to do so for a variety of reasons.
During Sachin Tendulkar’s illustrious 24-year career, he hammered 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI tons across 663 international games. With 71 international hundreds, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is second in the list while Virat Kohli is one short of him having 70. Out of 70, 43 of them have come in ODIs while 27 have arrived in Tests.
Brad Hogg (Source: Twitter)
“Of course Virat Kohli can” : Brad Hogg
When asked by a fan on his Youtube channel whether Kohli can eclipse Tendulkar’s 100 centuries, Brad Hogg answered without hesitation that he can. The former Australian left-arm spinner cited the modern cricketers’ fitness level as the primary reason. Apart from that, doctors and physios are available all the time to help them even if a small niggle occurs.
“Of course he can. Fitness levels today are a lot better when Sachin Tendulkar started. Plus they get a lot of help with quality fitness trainers. They have also got a lot of physios and doctors on board. Any niggle that is starting to happen people can get on top of it straight away,” the 49-year old said as quoted by Times of India.
Virat Kohli (Photo: Twitter)
Their fitness levels are also the reason why cricketers miss quite fewer games as of today. Virat Kohli is one of the fittest cricketers at present, who is also a brisk runner between the wickets and an agile fielder.
“Therefore players miss less games and of course there is a lot more cricket being played these days. So yes, he can break that record,”
“Indian bowling attack has dominated world cricket” : Brad Hogg
Hogg recalled the 2018 series between Australia and India, citing that Indian pace attack has grown by leaps and bounds. The veteran added that India’s paceman pick up wickets faster than the other teams and have competed hard against the likes of Australia, South Africa, and England.
“I am going to go with the start of the series between Australia and India in November 2018. Indian bowling attack has dominated world cricket. India’s pace attack take wickets quicker that any other team and they have played against some good teams… Australia…South Africa…they played against Bangladesh as well and couple of other good teams,”
Indian pacers with the pink ball (Credits: Twitter)
Hogg held the batsmen responsible for their forgettable show in New Zealand where the then number one Test team lost by 2-0. However, their pace attack remains supreme. While Virat Kohli’s men are table-toppers in the ICC Test Championship, they sit second in the Test rankings behind Australia.
“That’s why India are pretty dominant. The batsmen led them down in New Zealand but that pace attack is the best going around,” he added.
