Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath believes Virat Kohli can break the records set by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar if he keeps playing in the same vein.
Having had many a great battles with Sachin during his playing days, the Aussie’s authority on the subject is not in question.
Speaking to the Hindu in Chennai, the Australia great talked about the India skipper in length, including strategies about where to bowl to him. “If he (Kohli) continues to bat the way he is doing now, he could well go past Sachin’s records,” McGrath said.
“I don’t like to compare eras. Every era makes it own demands and the pitches, generally, are better for batting these days. Sachin, on his day, could decimate attacks. Kohli is a very attacking batsman too,” he added.
With 56 international tons to his name, Kohli is 44 behind Sachin’s record of 100 centuries. He is well placed to overhaul the legendary batsman’s of 49 ODI centuries having already become the second-highest ton-maker in the format with 35 of his own.
McGrath had some fascinating duels with Sachin at their peaks.
When speaking about how he would contain the 29-year-old batting sensation, McGrath had some theories of his own.
“Kohli is a quality batsman, a confidence player, and as a bowler, I will cut off his scoring areas and build pressure. He is good through the off-side, I would block him there. He is good off his legs too and again I would deny him runs in that area,” he explained.
“Kohli is solid technically, has an aggressive attitude, goes about his cricket with passion and I would like to play on his mind, prevent him from scoring freely.
“And I would bowl an in-between length at Kohli, neither too full nor too short and cramp him for room.
“There are other tactics too, McGrath says, that could work against Kohli. “For instance, you could have an aggressive field and bowl a defensive line. There are areas to score but the ball is not there to be hit. It forces mistakes.”
Considered to be amongst the finest of pacers to grace international cricket, McGrath played 124 Tests for Australia, picking up 563 wickets. He is the all-time leading wicket-taker amongst pacers in the format.