NEW DELHI: The world’s fastest runner, Usain Bolt, declared on Wednesday that he prefers T20 cricket because this aligns with his own image and is no surprise.
Bolt believes that given how fast the game is, this will continue to attract more fans from the Caribbean and around the world than ever before hence probably eclipsing Test matches.
In spite of retiring in 2017 from a brilliant athletics career, Bolt’s magnetic personality has remained as strong as ever.
The former legendary athlete now an ambassador for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup and he says he is “living the dream” by being involved in his favorite sport.
His spectacular accomplishments on track including holding world records in the prestigious 100m and 200m events have propelled him to one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. After seven years since leaving active sports, his influence and appeal continue to mesmerize people worldwide thus making him a perfect match for the enchanting universe of T20 cricket.
As he approached New York’s makeshift cricket stadium in a child-like excitement, you could almost hear him talking about cricket. There is an India-Pakistan clash scheduled for June 9 at one of three T20 World Cup venues within American mainland; New York’s makeshift cricket ground happens to be one of them too.
“I grew up playing cricket. My dad was a big fan of cricket still is. It is like something I have always had within my blood. It feels great to actually get back into cricket as an ambassador also. I never got to live my dream as a cricketer so it was wonderful being ambassador for T20 World Cup.” Bolt told PTI from New York.
Over the past few months, he has been touring different countries for music concerts among others including football hence there was no time left for watching live TV games of T20 leagues.
He knows IPL series are running but he has not gotten enough time to watch them all.
“I have managed to keep up with some of it but I haven’t really watched it as much as I wanted to,” The “Lightning Bolt” said.
The thing that excites Bolt the most is speed, which is why he describes T20 as the best format of cricket.
“T20s for sure… When they started it was a great idea and still is. It compresses the game because you have to also be strong and quick but also be strategic, set a field and get things done quick. To me it combines Test match and one day together to create the perfect game.”
It’s not only Bolt who likes short form cricket in West Indies. Even their top cricketers are better known now for what they do in T20 leagues than when playing for the Caribbean team.
Test cricket has little hope within this part of world where T20 cricket rules according to Bolt.
“I believe the Caribbean still has the biggest T20s and ODIs. Unsurprisingly, people don’t particularly enjoy test cricket. If you look at the speed of the game or such players as Andre Russell who can really put a ball over the horizon, you will see that we are headed in this direction.
“It will help attract more people to watch it. It is just what everyone loves,” he said.
USA, which is hosting a global cricket event for the first time, although now played mostly by South Asian and Caribbean expatriates but Bolt expects to see locals getting involved with it.
“I do think that there is potential for growth for this game in USA. When presence exists anywhere hordes of people want to know about it.” Bolt revealed
While growing up I loved watching Akram and Kohli was always outstanding among current cricketers.
Bolt did not have much idle time on his hands; however, being raised in Jamaica meant he watched lots of cricket with his dad. Images of Wasim Akram bowling batsmen with his late-swinging yorkers are still new in his mind.
“Wasim Akram was one of my favorite cricketers when I grew up because of his inswing yorker. For example Courtney Walsh or Curtly Ambrose all these guys that I actually looked up to over years were so dominant within their era.”
Like anyone else he liked some guys from Indian team?
“West Indies always (laughs) like my father does. Obviously Sachin Tendulkar too, He and Brian Lara were part my life while growing up. It was tremendous rivalry,” he spoke about two great batsmen.
Bolt says “Kohli is definitely one player among others”.
Prompted if there’s a sportsman who may be a sprinter whatsoever – The Showman came out into play
“We’re joking right now me & Chris Gayle (that’s my boy) he was like I could beat him over 100m. We’re gonna do a race and see (laughs).
“I’m the fastest in the world, there’s no athlete right now who can beat me (Laughs)” Bolt ended, clearly showing that he would love to go back to India soon.
He only came here last in 2014.
