West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard has been a key part of Mumbai Indians as they won the Indian Premier League (IPL) title a record five times while the all-rounder has been struggling with the bat and the bowl in the ongoing season.
West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard has been a key part of Mumbai Indians as they won the Indian Premier League (IPL) title a record five times.
While in the IPL 2022, the all-rounder has been struggling with the bat and bowl in what has been a forgettable edition for the Rohit Sharma-led side. However, he took just four wickets, and his struggles with the bat have been far worse.
With the reputation of one of the most hard-hitter batters in the IPL, Pollard has scored just 144 runs in 11 matches at an average of 14.40 and a strike rate of 107.46.
Former West Indies legend Ian Bishop, however, reckons that Pollard is not “washed” as some may suggest, but highlighted that he needs to reinvent his game.
“Pollard himself has to reinvent his game, however, he chooses to do that, because he’s still got a future ahead of him we hope,”
Bishop told ESPNcricinfo.
“People are saying he’s washed, I’m not going to go there. I think he’s a player who can reinvent himself,”
he went on to say.
He also wished the media and fans to remember his contributions to Mumbai Indians over the years before writing Pollard off.
“Yeah, they’re keeping faith and being loyal to a great player for them. We have to have long memories – when I say we, in the media; fans, some fans anyway, have short memories,”
Bishop said.
“You look at Pollard’s numbers when Mumbai have won the championships: 400 runs (420) in 2013 at (an average of) 42, up to 2019 and 2020, where he averaged over 30 with a strike rate sometimes in the 160s to 190s (156.74 in 2019, 191.42 in 2020) – he’s been integral to them. You can’t forget that as a franchise, so they’re giving him every possible chance,”
Bishop concluded.
The five times IPL champions are suffering in the ongoing IPL and dropped out of the play-offs while they will play their next clash against Chennai Super Kings on Thursday.
