Kieron Pollard is one of the all-time IPL greats. The former Mumbai Indians All-rounder celebrates his birthday today. He has been instrumental in the franchise's success for thirteen years since they bought him in the IPL 2010 auction.
Pollard has the highest number of appearances in the IPL among all overseas players. He has come clutch in pressure situations on more than one occasion. A lethal middle-order batsman, Pollard was also able to bag wickets when no one could.
Finishing innings with the bat, breaking partnerships with the ball, or grabbing a spectacular catch on the long-off boundary - Pollard could do it all.
𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙧𝙣 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 👑
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 11, 2023
Our boss man-batting coach Polly, you achieved the pinnacle of greatness. 💙 #HappyBirthdayPollard #OneFamily #MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians @KieronPollard55 pic.twitter.com/coetR7JGu0
As the great Trinidadian turns 36, TSN takes a look back at three all-time IPL classics of Pollard.
Pollard’s best performances in the IPL
- 64 (33) and 4/44 against the Rajasthan Royals (2012)
Impact-wise, this performance from Kieron Pollard for the Mumbai Indians is right up there. In 2012 at the Wankhede, the hosts found themselves in a spot of bother. Rajasthan Royals had picked three early wickets after choosing to bowl.
In came Pollard, who attacked the bowlers from the start. Pollard’s stay in the middle was cut short, but only after scoring 64 runs off 33 deliveries at a strike rate (SR) of 193.
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If you thought that was it, you’re certainly mistaken. In the second innings, Pollard provided crucial breakthroughs with the ball. Taking four wickets in as many overs, Pollard was awarded the Man of the Match.
- 60* (32) and 1/34 against the Chennai Super Kings (2013)
Occasion-wise, this is when Pollard announced himself to the IPL. He was chosen the man of the match on the night Mumbai Indians claimed their first-ever IPL title.
On a bowling-friendly pitch at the Eden Gardens, Pollard showed his mettle by producing one heck of a knock with the bat. Pollard came into bat in the final with MI struggling at 52/4. He remained unbeaten at 60 at the end of 20 overs and helped MI post a total of 148.
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In the second innings, Pollard took the wicket of Ashwin, as Mumbai Indians (MI) restricted their opponents to 125. The man from the Caribbean made a name for himself as his team won the match by 23 runs.
- 2/12 and 87* (34) against the Chennai Super Kings (2021)
One of the best performances by a player in the IPL was when Pollard single-handedly dismantled arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The men in yellow posted a massive score of 218 runs. However, Pollard only conceded 12 runs in two overs, picking up crucial wickets of Suresh Raina and Faf Du Plessis.
In the second innings, Pollard to the task in his own hands, scoring an unbeaten 87 in 34 deliveries to help MI complete their first-ever chase above 200. It is also the highest score of Pollard in the IPL.
