In the third edition of IPL in 2010, Mumbai Indians (MI) successfully secured the services of a Trinidadian youngster at a whopping price of $2.2m. Since then, the player has grown up to become a veteran in the T20 format and one of the legends of the Mumbai-based franchise.
In November 2022, that player, Kieron Pollard, announced his retirement from IPL after representing MI for thirteen consecutive seasons. The all-rounder has been part of the team’s five title-winning seasons and contributed to that success in more than one way.
5 best performances of Kieron Pollard in the IPL
Pollard had a wonderful career with MI after playing 189 IPL matches, scoring 3412 runs and claiming 69 wickets. But his contribution can’t be measured by how many runs he scored or how many wickets he took. To know about his significance, one should look at how his contribution impacted a game and turned it in his team’s favor. Let’s have a look at Kieron Pollard’s 5 best performances in his IPL career.
1. 64 (33) & 4/44 vs Rajasthan Royals in 2012
After being invited to bat first by their opposition Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians got stuck at 68/3 in the ninth over on a very good batting pitch at Wankhede Stadium. Kieron Pollard came in to bat number 5 and started smashing the balls from the beginning of his innings. He along with Ambati Rayudu, formed a partnership of 96 runs in only 52 balls, in which Pollard alone scored 64 runs in 33 balls at an enormous strike rate of 193.93.
After helping the team to reach 197 in 20 overs, the top scorer of the batting innings wreaked havoc with the ball as well. In his spell of 4 overs, Pollard took 4 crucial wickets to restrict the opposition to 170. For his massive contribution with both bat and ball, Pollard was expectedly named as the player of the match.
2. 60* (32) & 1/34 vs Chennai Super Kings in 2013
In IPL 2013 final, Kieron Pollard rose to the occasion and produced a gem of a knock on the biggest of stages. The condition at the Eden Gardens was bowling-friendly, and none of the Mumbai Indians batters looked comfortable. But it seemed like Pollard was batting on an entirely different surface.
Coming on to bat 52/4, Pollard took MI to a competitive total of 148 after smashing 60 in 32 balls. No other batter from his team could hit a six, and on that same deck, Pollard scored at a rate of 187.50. Later, he claimed a wicket and helped MI to win their first IPL title.
3. 83 (31) vs Kings XI Punjab in 2019
Kings XI Punjab posted a mammoth score of 197, and the match almost seemed out of reach of Mumbai Indians when they lost their third wicket at 62 in the 9th over. But Pollard, who was named captain for that match, was on a mission that day and played a scintillating knock that stunned the opposition.
When none of his teammates could even reach 25 runs, Pollard hammered the bowlers with ease. His knock of 83 off 31 deliveries was studded with 3 fours and 10 massive sixes. The power-hitter almost single-handedly took the team to the target before Alzarri Joseph finished the job.
4. 70 (47) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017
Chasing an easy target of 143, Mumbai Indians started their innings in the worst possible way. Royal Challengers Bangalore spinner Samuel Badree ran riot and reduced MI to 7/4 after grabbing a hat trick. Kieron Pollard got down to repairing work and led an extraordinary comeback.
After surviving the initial turbulent phase, Pollard displayed his hard-hitting prowess and contributed crucial 70 runs off just 47 balls. On a pitch where other batters struggled to get going, Pollard had hit 3 fours and 5 sixes. He was dismissed just before reaching the target, but MI eventually notched up a win from a losing position.
5. 2/12 & 87* (34) vs Chennai Super Kings in 2021
When the opposition scores 218 in a 20-over match and you have conceded only 12 runs in 2 overs while picking up 2 wickets, you know that you have done your job. But in the match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kieron Pollard was hardly done after that bowling performance.
His teammates contributed with useful thirties, but the daunting task of chasing mammoth 219 runs would not have been possible had Pollard not played a knock for the ages. All the CSK bowlers had experience in international cricket, but nobody stood a chance on that day against Kieron Pollard in the IPL.
He ransacked the opposition bowling attack, scored 87 in 34 balls, and took his team to victory in the last ball of the match. Till now, it is the second-highest successful run chase in the history of IPL, and it was Pollard who made that possible.
Wrap-up
Throughout Kieron Pollard in the IPL career, Kieron Pollard has mesmerized cricket fans with his power-hitting skills and cunning medium-pace bowling. His contribution to the success of Mumbai Indians is immense. Although he decided not to take the field for MI in the future, his legacy is here to stay.
FAQs
Q1:- What is the highest score of Kieron Pollard in IPL?
Ans:- Kieron Pollard’s highest IPL score is 87*.
Q2:- How many times Kieron Pollard has been adjudged player of the match?
Ans:- Kieron Pollard has been named player of the match on 14 occasions in the IPL.
Q3:- Where does Kieron Pollard stand in the list of most sixes hit by a batter in the IPL?
Ans:- With 223 sixes, Kieron Pollard holds the fifth position in the list of most sixes hit by a batter in the IPL.
