Amidst the ongoing IND vs AUS ODI series, former Australian batting star and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend, Michael Hussey, has made a light-hearted claim about his career, suggesting he could have surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's run-scoring records had he started his international career earlier.

Speaking on The Grade Cricketer YouTube channel, Hussey, known for his calm demeanor and sharp cricketing mind, joked about a hypothetical scenario where he debuted earlier, potentially amassing "about 5,000 runs past Sachin Tendulkar". He also added that he would have had "Most centuries, most wins, most Ashes wins, and the most World Cup wins, probably all those things". He then said, "And then, unfortunately, I wake up in the morning and it's just a dream".

Sachin Tendulkar, often dubbed the "God of Cricket" in India, holds numerous world records, including being the all-time highest run-scorer in international cricket with 34,357 runs. He is also the only batsman to have scored 100 international centuries.

Hussey's international debut came at the relatively late age of 28, despite his consistent performance in domestic cricket for years. He acknowledged that while he would have loved an earlier opportunity, the delayed start allowed him to develop a great understanding of his game.

The former Aussie batter admitted he would have loved a chance to represent his country sooner. He emphasized that when he was finally picked, he had a great understanding of his game.

Hussey's late debut was largely due to the strength of the Australian batting lineup in the late 1990s and early 2000s, making it difficult for newcomers to break into the team. Despite the challenges, Hussey made a significant impact once he got his chance, becoming a key player in Australia's 2007 ODI World Cup victory and their 2006 and 2009 Champions Trophy wins.

Across all formats, Hussey played 302 matches and scored 12,398 runs at an average of 49, including 22 centuries. In Test matches, he scored 6,235 runs at an average of 51.52 in 79 matches. In ODIs, he accumulated 5,442 runs at an average of 48.15 in 185 matches. He also played 38 T20Is, scoring 721 runs at an average of 37.94 with a strike rate of 136.29.

In comparison, Tendulkar amassed 15,921 runs in Test matches and 18,426 runs in ODIs. Tendulkar also holds the record for the most Test centuries with 51.

While Hussey's numbers are impressive, his late start meant he couldn't match Tendulkar's overall career statistics. However, Hussey did outscore Tendulkar in T20Is, with 721 runs compared to Tendulkar's 10 runs in his single T20I match.

Hussey's cheeky claim highlights the impact of timing and opportunity in a cricketer's career. While Tendulkar's records remain unparalleled, Hussey's hypothetical scenario provides an interesting perspective on what could have been, given his talent and consistency.