... Welcomes IPL career after athletics retirement

Sprinting superstar Usain Bolt has backed the inclusion of Twenty20 cricket in the Olympic Games and has welcomed an experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after he hangs up his spikes.

Bolt, who was in India for an exhibition cricket match yesterday, where he smashed 45 runs off 19 balls with five sixes and three fours to his credit, told ESPN Cricinfo that he believes the sport would benefit significantly if added to the Olympic roster.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist, who said he has been watching the sport since the age of five, also spoke of his love for Twenty20 cricket, his friendship with Jamaican cricket star Chris Gayle, and the chance of him playing in the IPL.

"If I get a chance to come and play the IPL after I'm done running, that would be proper fun because I have seen the energy and I'm a big fan of that, so It would be a great experience.," said Bolt.

"I'm a huge cricket fan, Ive been watching cricket since I was five years old and I was pretty good, actually," Bolt said. "I played at the primary-school level and I used to be one of the best batsman and bowler when I used to play, so for me, I was good. I didn't play much after that, but I play a few matches here and there."

"Everybody loves Twenty20, I used to love one day cricket also. I was never a big fan of Test cricket, it was too slow for me, so Twenty20 is definitely my favourite format," Bolt added before throwing his support behind cricket's addition to the Olympic Games.

"Yes, definitely, as long as it's the Twenty20 cricket. It would definitely benefit the sport because its a big audience, so if the sport gets to the Olympics, it would be wonderful for the sport," said Bolt.

"Chris Gayle from the start has been aggressive, and its one of the things I like to watch because when I play, I like to play aggressively as well. It was great watching him develop over the years, getting better and playing great and then the Twenty20 format came and he dominated, so that's wonderful," said Bolt of the West Indies star. "We do chill out when we get the chance to go out and have some fun. It's always great when I get a chance to hang out with him."