Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic gold medalist and world champion javelin thrower, recently suggested that former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee could have excelled in javelin throwing during his cricket career. This sparked a lighthearted and humble response from Lee.

In a recent interview with JioStar ahead of the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025, Chopra was asked which cricketer he thought would be a good javelin thrower. Without hesitation, he named Brett Lee, citing the Australian's athleticism, power, and explosive energy during his peak years as a cricketer. "I have heard that Brett Lee was a javelin thrower. I think he could throw the javelin well, especially when he was in his peak years," Chopra said.

Lee, known for his speed and fierce bowling, responded to Chopra's comment with humility and humor on social media. Sharing an article from India Today, Lee acknowledged trying javelin in his school days but admitted he was "nowhere close" to Chopra's level. "I did throw the javelin back at my schooling days, but nowhere near what Neeraj does & continues to do," Lee wrote. He also noted the physical demands of the sport, adding, "Very tough on the elbow". Despite downplaying his own javelin abilities, Lee expressed admiration for Chopra, stating, "I have however admired what this fine athlete can do and wish him well".

The Neeraj Chopra Classic (NC Classic) is set to be held on July 5 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Chopra also mentioned Jasprit Bumrah as another cricketer he would like to see try javelin. He expressed interest in learning bowling skills from Bumrah, recognizing the unique synergies and differences between the two throwing sports. "While bowling and javelin are both throws, they are very different. I would like to learn from Bumrah," Chopra said.

In a lighter vein, Chopra revealed that if he could have any superpower, it would be Sachin Tendulkar's mental fortitude to handle pressure. He admired Tendulkar's composure and consistency throughout his long career. He also shared advice from his coach, Jan Zelezny, who encouraged him to focus on rhythm and relaxation. Chopra noted that Zelezny tells him to run like an 18-year-old kid without tension and to find his flow. When asked which cricket shot reminded him most of a javelin throw, Chopra playfully said, "The helicopter shot by MS Dhoni".

Neeraj Chopra recently reclaimed his number one spot in the men's javelin throw world rankings, surpassing Anderson Peters of Grenada. According to Olympics.com, World Athletics updated the rankings, giving Neeraj 1,445 points compared to Peters' 1,431. Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan is currently ranked fourth with 1,370 points.