T20 World Cup 2024: Usain Bolt comes up with a special praise for Virat Kohli

Former Sprinting World champion Usain Bolt has come up with a special praise for none other than Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli in a recent interview.

Usain Bolt, who hails from Jamaica, is the brand ambassador of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 along with legendary names like Chris Gayle and Yuvraj Singh. He has previously mentioned just how impactful he thinks Virat Kohli has been in the sporting world and ahead of the World Cup, he said a few more things about the former India captain.

Usain Bolt calls Virat Kohli as the standout cricketer of all time

While speaking to PTI recently, Usain Bolt claimed that despite the flock of some world-class cricketers, he thinks that Virat Kohli is the standout of them all. The modern-day great is perhaps the most famous cricketer at the moment and he is possibly the most famous cricket player that ever lived.

If people stick to the stadiums in the USA and West Indies for the World Cup, then half of the reason will be Virat Kohli. His presence itself is massive and when non-cricketing sportspersons appreciate him for what he has done, then one has to realize that Kohli is indeed an international icon. "Kohli is the standout one for sure" - Bolt told PTI,

This T20 World Cup for Virat Kohli is going to be more important than ever. There are reports circulating that Kohli along with skipper Rohit Sharma will retire from the shortest format after the conclusion of the World Cup. That makes this particular edition even more important as Kohli still hopes and aims to win an ICC tournament as a senior player of the team.

The last time he won an ICC trophy, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma were the new opening pair, Dinesh Karthik had just found his mojo back. MS Dhoni was at his peak in captaincy and England still hadn't won a single ICC silverware. Since then, the world has turned upside down but Virat Kohli is yet to touch a major trophy.

Usain Bolt reveals his childhood cricketing icons

Before he mentioned Virat Kohli as the stand-out one, Usain Bolt had revealed the cricketers he used to look up to during his childhood days. The 8-time Olympic gold medalist admitted that he used to look up to Wasim Akram while growing up, all because of the left-arm seamer's ability to bowl in in-swinging yorkers.

Bolt then named West Indies icons Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose as the other two bowlers he admired. The batting rivalry between Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara was one of his favorite growing up and admitted that West Indies were the team he supported because of his father.

"Over the years, one of my favorites growing up was Wasim Akram because of the in-swinging yorker that he had. Of course, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, all these guys that I admired over the years, they were so dominant in their space."

"Like my father, I always support the West Indies (laughs). But yes, I have also been a Sachin Tendulkar fan. He and Brian Lara were part of my life growing up. It was a great rivalry." - Usain Bolt concluded.