West Indies great Kieron Pollard has decided to retire from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after 13 glittering years with five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI). Pollard made the decision as was no longer a fit for MI’s XI as they are going through a transition phase and he had no intention of playing for any other franchise. However, this is not the end of the road for Pollard in MI, as he will be taking over as the team’s batting coach.
Kieron Pollard was part of the winning squad for MI all 5 times – in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. He also featured as a captain of the team in six matches, where Mumbai won four of the games. Only a handful of players in IPL have featured in 100 or more matches for a single franchise and Pollard stands second on the list as he has played 189 IPL matches for Mumbai Indians.
Virat Kohli sits atop with his record tally for Royal Challengers Bangalore while others on the list feature Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders from 2011), Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians from 2013) and Lasith Malinga (who had two stints at Mumbai). In those 189 games, Kiron Pollard has amassed 3412 runs, with the help of 16 fifties, and picked 69 wickets, becoming one of the most prolific all-rounders the league ever witnessed.
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In his statement announcing his new phase with the Mumbai Indians, Keiron Pollard wrote, “It hasn’t been the easiest decision to make as I intend to keep playing for a few more years, but following discussions with Mumbai Indians I have decided to call time on my IPL career. I understand that this incredible franchise which has achieved so much needs to transition and if I’m no longer to play for MI then I cannot see myself playing against MI either, ‘Once an MI always an MI’.”
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He further added, “However as I have agreed to take up the role of batting coach in the IPL as well as play with the MI Emirates. I am immensely proud, honored, and blessed to have represented the biggest and most successful team in the IPL for the past 13 seasons. I have always felt and appreciated their unconditional support both on and off the field. We would not have achieved success over the years without their continuing hard work, dedication, and commitment to creating the best environment and I look forward to emulating their successful approach.”
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Kieron Pollard concluded by saying, “In particular, I would like to pay special tribute to my good friend Robin Singh for his sound advice and guidance over the years and whose very shoes I now fill. Most sincerely, I express my deep appreciation to Mukesh, Nita, and Akash Ambani for the tremendous love, support, and respect I have always felt and for the confidence they placed in me. I recall our first encounter when they welcomed me with open arms saying “We are family”.”
