MI vs RR: Kieron Pollard Backs Hardik Pandya

It was a case of what might have been for the Mumbai Indians (MI) and their batting coach Kieron Pollard quietly acknowledges that MI lost their last league game to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 30 runs to end a disappointing campaign where they finished 9th only ahead of Lucknow Super Giants on NRR. It has been a campaign to forget for MI & Hardik Pandya, and Kieron Pollard acknowledged the sentiments behind it.

Kieron Pollard’s candid take on the performance of the team

Speaking at the press conference after the game, Kieron Pollard said, “If this had happened, if we had done this, if we had done that, if we had played this one, if we had batted, it’s a bit of that. Overall, it has been disappointing for all of us as Mumbai Indians. I’m sure the fans and everyone would have felt the same and there’s no hiding from that. We weren’t good the entire tournament. We weren’t able to string together wins and use the momentum when we got it.”

But it wasn’t yet time to discuss specifics and point out shortcomings reckoned Pollard. Kieron Pollard said, “Right now is not the time and place to talk about that post mortem. All these things will be sort of emotional decisions and thinking of every aspect of what’s needed. Everyone needs that time and space to go, sit down, recollect, have a fair idea and assessment as to where it went wrong for us. That’s where better decision-making is going to come about. If you sit here right now and say you need to do this, you need to do that, I think that will be irresponsible from a management perspective.” 

When the review happens, Pollard expects it to be thorough. He said, “Guys are going to sit back and actually think about what’s needed. It has been a while since we won the championship and that’s something that we have accepted as a team. And I said, another disappointing campaign adding to what would have transpired before. So deep thinking is going to go into it.” 

Kieron Pollard comes out in support of Hardik Pandya’s leadership 

Two questions that have come up time and again during the season that concerns are Hardik Pandya’s captaincy and Jasprit Bumrah’s loss of wicket-taking form.

Kieron Pollard said, “If we go back 12 months, we finish third or fourth in IPL 2025. So that in itself justifies some of the changes that you would have made before. Now, finishing ninth, you’re not wanting to question it. I think that’s the inconsistencies that we need to sort of stay away from and understand strategically where we need to get better,”

Kieron Pollard further added, “And for a leadership perspective, Hardik Pandya, yes, it has not gone maybe as well as he would have wanted as an individual. But one thing you know is that we’d have tried each and everything to give him the best opportunity to lead the franchise and do well. And again, no one is going to sit here and point fingers. I think when you lose, you have to look at it from a collective perspective. So you win some, you lose some. He was trying, we all were trying and it just didn’t work out for us,” 

Kieron Pollard on Jasprit Bumrah’s lean form. 

Jasprit Bumrah, meanwhile, had his leanest season in terms of wickets since 2015, when he played just four matches and got three wickets. This time, while his economy rate was excellent at 8.37. He managed to pick up 4 wickets.

Kieron Pollard said, “To be honest, he came in with a bit of a niggle after the T20 World Cup. We tried to manage it. He wasn’t his best self in terms of fitness perspective and all of that. But he was able to come and try to deliver.”

After 13 games, Bumrah was left out for MI’s final game. Kieron Pollard said, “You’re going to get two points if you played. What’s that going to do for us. I think, sometimes, you need to understand the player, understand what’s necessary at this point in time. And I think for a selection perspective, we didn’t think that today would have been right for him to play. We had other guys on the bench. We have depth in our bowling. We have young guys. So trying something different, I don’t see anything wrong with that.” 

Kieron Pollard further added, “So, let’s not look too much into that. This is the last game of the season. It’s not that we could have qualified for the playoffs. And he’s a prized possession for Indian cricket. So sometimes you have to take the smarter option.” 

So, let’s see what the road ahead for MI is as they end their campaign in 9th place. But Kieron Pollard spoke candidly and the truth about the state of affairs with regards to Mumbai Indians and their players.

Also Read: MI vs RR: RR’s Middle Order Fires In Unison