Pollard Power: 5 times Kieron Pollard ensured an MI victory
Keiron Pollard has been Mumbai Indians’ mainstay ever since the inception of the Indian Premier League. Ever since then, MI has backed him to the core and has never let him go. Pollard is one amongst the very few who have played for only one team and the coming one is his 12th season with the Mumbai-based franchise. Over the years, he has pulled off some miraculous wins for his team single-handedly. Let’s take a look at 5 of those-
52 from 31 vs RCB, 2012
The RCB, batting first, had set up a moderate target of 172 for MI at the Chinnaswamy stadium. However, the RCB’s bowling unit pushed MI into serious trouble as they were reduced to 51 for 5. In walked Pollard alongside Ambati Rayudu and that is where began the journey of RCB’s misfortune. Pollard slammed 5 boundaries and 3 maximums in his 31-ball 52 and stitched an incredible partnership of 122 runs with Rayudu to lead his team to a victory.
66 from 27 vs SRH, 2013
It was the 62nd match of the tournament between MI and SRH, who posted 178 for 3 after their 20 overs. MI started well and got a decent platform. However, they soon found themselves 99 for three in the 14th over, with 79 runs needed in less than seven overs. Pollard made a slow start but with 62 needed in the last 4 overs, he went berserk at the Wankhede Stadium. He tore apart the SRH attack during his 66 off 27 that included 8 sixes, as MI chased the target with 3 balls to spare.
? Pollard is a Champion! ?#CPL20 #OneFamily @KieronPollard55 pic.twitter.com/GiToIicqmb
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) September 10, 2020
40 from 19 vs RCB, 2016
MI was yet again chasing a tricky total of 171 at Cuttack after RCB finished at 170 for 7 in their 20 overs. MI lost Parthiv Patel quickly, however, Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu built a solid partnership. Iqbal Abdullah made a sudden comeback as he dismissed both batsmen in a space of two overs. That is when Pollard joined Jos Buttler and added 31 with him before he perished to Abdullah as well. RCB was gradually making a comeback but what followed was an absolute carnage of Pollard, who smacked 28 runs in the next two overs to finish the game off in style.
51 from 17 vs KKR, 2016
After RCB, this time around was KKR’s chance to face the wrath of Pollard’s bat in IPL 2016 at the Wankhede Stadium. Batting first, the Riders posted 174 for 5 in 20 overs. A similar story unfolded as Parthiv Patel got out early and Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu steadied the ship. However, a few quick wickets in the middle overs led MI to lose its grip over the chase. Kieron Pollard joined Rohit and teed off in no time to 51 with 6 massive sixes and won his team the match in his own style.
83 off 31 vs KXIP, 2019
Arguably one of the most destructive knocks in the history of IPL. Batting first, the KXIP registered a massive target of 198 for MI courtesy a 64-ball ton by KL Rahul. Chasing almost 10 runs an over, MI was reduced to 94 for 4 with the majority of their batsmen in the pavilion. Kieron Pollard came out blazing as he slapped 10 humongous sixes en route to his 83 off just 31 and led MI to register a win on the last ball. He won the Man of the Match award deservingly for his incredible efforts.
