West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard celebrates his 37th birthday today. Pollard’s terrific cricketing prowess was not only limited to batting but his splendid match-winning skills were visible in bowling too.
Pollard showcased power hitting of the highest class in the opening T20I against Sri Lanka in Antigua. Following the footsteps of South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs (2007 ODI World Cup against the Netherlands) and India’s Yuvraj Singh (2007 T20 World Cup against England), Pollard became only the third batter to hit six sixes in an over at the international level.
At the receiving end of Pollard’s brute force in this rare feat was Akila Dananjaya, who, just before this over, took a hat-trick to bring his team back into the game.
Sri Lanka had posted a total of 131 for 9 in the first innings of the game. In reply, the West Indies got off to a great start and had a 52-run opening stand. However, Akila’s hat trick brought them down to 52 for 3 in the fourth over. West Indies lost another wicket in the next over and were 62 for 4.
Pollard was batting on 2 off 4 deliveries when he decided to loft the first delivery of the over towards the mid-on region. The ball ended up going towards mid-wicket but with Pollard’s force behind, it sailed comfortably over the boundary. The next one was hit straight to the side screen and was followed by another maximum on the mid-off. From 2 for 4, Pollard was now 20 for 7 after completing a hat-trick of sixes.
The next three hits off Pollard’s bat were directed towards the on the side and each one of them sailed over the boundary with ease.
Pollard became the first West Indies batter to score 6 sixes in an over in an international game. However, on the very next delivery he faced after the feat, Pollard was given out LBW. The right-hander was dismissed for 38 off 11 balls in the sixth over of the West Indian run chase.
The hosts eventually chased down the total of 132 set by Sri Lanka in just 13.1 overs and registered a comprehensive 4 wicket victory.
The veteran all-rounder played a key role in clinching five IPL titles for the Mumbai franchise.
Pollard Mumbai’s old guards in the Indian Premier League (IPL) retiring from the competition in 2022. He then made a return in 2023 as the batting coach of the franchise
Known for striking the ball hard, ‘Polly’ was one of the tournament’s finest power hitters. Since his debut in 2010, Pollard competed in 189 matches while scoring 3412 runs. He managed to put up these numbers at an impressive strike rate of 147.32. Let’s take a look at some of his memorable performances for MI in recent times.
87 not out vs Chennai Super Kings, 2021
Mumbai Indians’ ever-dependable all-rounder Kieron Pollard was unstoppable against an MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings on May 1, 2021. While chasing a target of 219, the West Indies star produced a lightning-fast 34-ball 87 (not out). He smashed six boundaries and eight maximums in the game. Pollard’s heroics made all the difference as MI clinched a win by four wickets.
60 not out vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 2020
The Mumbai Indians were in deep trouble at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2021. The Virat Kohli-led side had put up a total of 201 in that match. A heroic 24-ball 60 (not out) from Pollard saw MI tie the game with RCB. He had smashed three fours and five sixes in that game. MI, eventually, lost the super-over to their opponents.
83 vs Kings XI Punjab, 2019
While chasing a target of 198 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Kieron Pollard once again came up with a memorable knock against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2019. He smashed 83 runs facing 31 deliveries. His epic innings included three boundaries and a staggering 10 sixes. Leading the squad in Rohit’s absence, Pollard guided MI to a narrow three-wicket victory.
50 vs Kings XI Punjab, 2018
Kieron Pollard had proven to be Kings XI Punjab’s nightmare on another occasion in 2018. Playing at the Wankhede Stadium on May 16, Pollard recorded a 23-ball fifty to help Mumbai Indians reach a total of 186. His half-century proved crucial as MI picked up a narrow three-run triumph in that fixture.