‘MI made him retire prematurely’: Cricket fans demand Kieron Pollard return to IPL after CPL 2026 blitz
‘MI made him retire prematurely’: Cricket fans demand Kieron Pollard return to IPL after CPL 2026 blitz originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Pollard’s latest blitz has prompted fans to call for his return to the IPL in India.
Some supporters blamed Mumbai Indians for bringing an end to his IPL playing career in 2022.
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Kieron Pollard turns back the clock with stunning CPL blitz
Kieron Pollard has yet again made cricket lovers realise why he continues to be one of the most lethal finishers in T20 cricket after making an incredible 26-ball 65 for Trinbago Knight Riders against Saint Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League.
After being asked to chase 212 at Brian Lara Stadium on Wednesday, Pollard came into bat at No. 6 with TKR requiring to keep up a scary run rate. This brought about classic ‘Polly’, who unleashed his full fury on the bowlers of Saint Lucia.
Pollard smashed 65 runs off 26 balls, with 15 sixes and 11 fours, at a strike rate of 250. His dismissal in the 16th over ended TKR’s hopes of pulling off an unlikely victory, with his side finishing at 175/6 to lose by 36 runs.
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Fans want Pollard back in the IPL
Pollard’s innings quickly became the subject of discussion among cricket fans on social media, with many asking why the former Mumbai Indians player has stopped playing in the IPL.
A reminder of the other times Pollard “smacking the hell out of international bowlers,” commented one of the fans, while stating that Mumbai Indians’ management had forced Pollard to retire.
“Imagine him playing in flat pitches in IPL,” an ex-South Africa high-performance coach wrote while urging Pollard to come out of his IPL retirement.
Other fans even said that it was shameful that Pollard has retired from Mumbai Indians in 2022 because “one of his best phases has been these recent 4 years.”
Whereas another X user’s post read: “Vintage Kieron Pollard! When Polly gets going in the death overs, the scoreboard just starts spinning out of control. Absolute brute force blended with unmatched experience taking bowlers to the cleaners and turning the game on its head in true Trinidadian fashion!”
He also said that despite being 39 years old, Pollard is still capable of “putting on a masterclass” with his “pure entertainment and timeless power hitting.”
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Did MI force Kieron Pollard to retire, and could he return to playing in the IPL?
Pollard decided to retire from IPL in November 2022 following 13 seasons with Mumbai Indians, who named him batting coach. However, he revealed that he intends to continue playing franchise T20 cricket but clarified that, after talking with MI, he did not want to play against the franchise.
Overall, Pollard has taken part in 189 IPL games, all for MI, registering 3,412 runs with a strike rate of 147.32 and 69 wickets. Besides, he has been an integral part of all five IPL-winning seasons of the franchise.
Pollard continues to prove himself in franchise T20 cricket as his CPL 2026 performances – including his 104 in the earlier games and his latest 65 off 26 balls – have clearly indicated that his power batting remains intact.
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For now, Pollard continues to be an integral part of Mumbai Indians team as batting coach. But each vintage innings always prompts the same question – is there anyone who thinks that IPL lost one of its greatest finishers prematurely?
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