MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have hit 257 and 239 sixes respectively in Indian Premier League. The batter who has smashed the most does not play IPL anymore but he is still sitting comfortably at a distance.
Tag: Kieron Pollard
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We have belief, we can get out of any situation: Mumbai Indians all-rounder Kieron Pollard
By PTI
ABU DHABI: Kieron Pollard says Mumbai Indians’ struggling players have belief in each other’s ability, asserting that they will wriggle out of the difficult situation as they continue to be in hunt for the IPL Play-offs.
The defending champions defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets on Tuesday night to stay afloat even as their big guns and youngsters are still striving to get back their rhythm.
“We don’t actually plan for things to be like this. What we have is belief in one another and we believe we can get out of any situation,” Pollard, who completed 10,000 runs in T20 cricket and also touched 300-wicket mark, said at the post-match media interaction.
Mumbai Indians are placed fifth with 10 points from 11 matches so far.
“We have put ourselves in this situation and the players and the management are sticking together.
“It is a matter of giving all the guys confidence and finding the best solutions. These are guys who have done it for us time and time again.”
Pollard did not appreciate the criticism the team is facing from outside.
“It’s difficult when you have a lot of other people on the outside as well speaking about it. These people speak and they don’t understand what people go through as cricketers. So for us, it is about backing individuals and trying to give them the confidence to do well because they are young, talented individuals.”
The West Indian said their focus is on present when asked how the pitches are likely to behave during the T20 World Cup that will begin immediately after the conclusion of the IPL.
“To be honest, the World Cup is irrelevant at this point of time, we are playing the IPL tournament. When you are in a tournament as an individual, you look to think about the present and not look too far ahead,” he said.
“Everyone one is going on about the pitches, but you cannot get what you want all the time. As a professional athlete, you need to adapt. For me, personally it is about staying in the present and dealing with what is in front of us as a team,” Pollard, who starred with an all-round performance (2/8 and 15 not out in 7 balls) added.
Pollard also had words of praise for Saurabh Tiwary, who made a crucial 45 in MI’s winning cause, saying he had done well in the opportunities he got and it is a sign of a guy who is focussed on what he needs to do.
“Every time he’s gotten an opportunity for us, more often than not, coming out and churning out numbers of batting in those crunch situations.
“And that is a sign of a guy who is focused on what he needs to do, sometimes he misses out for invariable reasons, but that’s the nature of team sports. He was the backbone for us. Well played to him,” he added.
Meanwhile, young Punjab Kings spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who kept MI batsmen on the leash with a spell of 4/25 in 4 overs, said he felt good about dismissing Suryakumar Yadav off the first ball he faced.
“I wanted to bowl a googly to Surya first up. If he picks it ok, he didn’t and it hit the stumps. I wanted to bowl wicket to wicket. Surya was deceived and dismissed. His dismissal felt good for me,” he said.
Bishnoi also got the key wicket of MI captain Rohit Sharma.
Asked about the performances of the overseas players in the team, Bishnoi said, “They are trying their best in the nets. They want to perform. It is a matter of time…But they are giving their best for the team.”
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Maxwell produces ‘Big Show’, Harshal takes hattrick as RCB crush Mumbai by 54 runs
By PTI
DUBAI: Glenn Maxwell justified his million dollar contract with an all-round performance before Harshal Patel took a hat-trick to ensure a thumping 54-run victory for Royal Challengers Bangalore over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday.
Maxwell (56 off 37 balls and 2/23) produced one of his better efforts in the IPL while Harshal (4/17 in 3.1 overs), the current Purple Cap holder removed Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Rahul Chahar off successive deliveries to defend a target of 165 without breaking much sweat.
MI were all-out for 111 in 18.1 overs, losing 10 wickets for 54 runs after being 57 for no loss at one stage.
Skipper Virat Kohli won the ‘Battle of Bosses’ against his national team deputy Rohit Sharma as RCB with 12 points are back in the play-off contention while MI with three successive defeats are now in a real spot of bother at seventh spot in eight-team table.
Kohli would also happy with his second half-century and the form of his premier spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (3/11 in 4 overs).
Rohit teed off with three boundaries in a single over from Kyle Jamieson.
MI looked in complete control during the Powerplay as Quinton de Kock also got a few boundaries.
However it was Chahal, who removed de Kock and then Ishan Kishan’s full-blooded shot was just about parried away by Rohit, who was hit on the left wrist trying to avoid a body blow.
That must have affected his concentration as he tried to hit a second six off Maxwell having hit one in the earlier over but this time was pouched by Devdutt Padikkal at the long-on boundary much to the delight of rival skipper Kohli.
Ishan Kishan (9 off 12 balls), who has barely managed 100 runs in nine IPL matches this season, would increase the worry of national selectors as he played an irresponsible hoick against the turn off Chahal and Krunal Pandya (5) then trying to break the logjam was bowled by Maxwell.
However, what disappointed the MI skipper most was how Surykumar Yadav (8) chased a wide yorker from Mohammed Siraj to give simple catch to short third man as MI slumped to 97 for 5 with recovery looking implausible.
Then Harshal got his hattrick to finish off the proceedings in style.
Earlier, Maxwell finally came good with an attacking 56 after skipper Kohli’s second consecutive half-century, taking Royal Challengers Bangalore to a par-score of 165/6.
Kohli, who completed 10,000 runs in T20 cricket, scored 51 off 42 balls with three fours and three sixes but it was Maxwell who justified his expensive price tag with a 37-ball blitzkrieg before Jasprit Bumrah brought MI back in the game.
Maxwell’s innings had six fours and three sixes as he showed true destructive potential with switch hits, lap shots and flicks during the final overs when he launched into MI pacers Adam Milne (1/48 in 4 overs) and Bumrah (3/26 in 4 overs) with utter disdain.
Such was the ferocity of Maxwell’s hits that even the normally calm MI skipper Rohit looked helpless before Bumrah removed both Maxwell and AB de villiers (11) off successive deliveries which at least helped them save 20 to 25 runs in the final two overs.
The normally dependable Devdutt Padikkal (0) had an off-day as Bumrah bowled a beauty which pitched on length and moved away taking the outside edge into Quinton de Kock’s gloves.
Kohli found a confident partner in Bharat (32 off 24 balls) as they quickly added 68 runs for the second wicket.
Bharath for good measure swept Rahul Chahar against the turn for two sixes while Kohli also imperiously pulled Bumrah for a six over deep mid-wicket.
However, Bharat couldn’t convert his start as Chahar bowled one straight and full and the batter didn’t get the required elevation being holed at long-off boundary.
Once Bharat was out and Maxwell came in, RCB despite some great shots couldn’t force the pace as Kohli and Maxwell added 50 runs in seven overs.
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Especially enjoyed dismissing Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard: Delhi Capitals spinner Amit Mishra
By PTI
CHENNAI: Delhi Capitals spinner Amit Mishra, who picked up a match-winning four-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians, said he particularly enjoyed dismissing opposition skipper Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard.Mishra led the bowling charge with figures of 4/24 to help the Delhi franchise restrict the Mumbai Indians to 137/9.
“The wickets of Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard were special for me because they have been game changers for MI for many years. I always go for wickets in every match that I play,” said the 38-year-old in a team release.
“I had a clear-cut plan about where I should bowl and how I could dismiss each of the big players in the Mumbai Indians side through my variations. And I am very happy that I could execute my plans. I am even more happy about the Delhi Capitals winning the match.”
The Delhi Capitals had just a day’s gap between their match against Punjab Kings in Mumbai and their game against Mumbai Indians in Chennai.
However, Mishra said that the quick change of venues didn’t affect the players.
“It was a challenge to be ready for a game in a different venue in a short period of time, but as professional cricketers we know how to motivate ourselves and recover for the next match.
“The physio’s work is very important in these situations. And once we step on the field, we focus on our performance and we don’t think about anything else.
“Asked if DC’s recent poor record against MI was playing on the players’ mind before the match on Tuesday, Mishra said, “In T20s, we have to forget the past and take a fresh start in every match that we play in, because anyone can change the match on any given day.
“I don’t think any of the players were thinking about our recent record against MI. Like (Delhi Capitals Head Coach) Ricky Ponting has told us, we take every day as a new day, and we play positively in every match.”
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Shahrukh Khan reminds me a bit of Kieron Pollard, says Punjab Kings head coach Anil Kumble
By ANI
MUMBAI: Punjab Kings head coach Anil Kumble has lavished praise on Tamil Nadu cricketer Shahrukh Khan and compared the swashbuckling batsman to West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard.Pollard, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the shortest format of the game. Kumble feels the rookie has a similar skill set as that of Pollard.
“He (Shahrukh ) reminds me a bit of Pollard actually. When I was with Mumbai Indians, Pollard in the nets was dangerous. I used to bowl a bit (in the nets), and the first thing I used to tell him was don’t hit straight,” Kumble said in a video posted on Punjab Kings’ Twitter.
“Here I’m not even trying. I’m a lot older now, and the body doesn’t take the bowling anymore. So, I’m not going to bowl at Shahrukh, for sure,” he added.
Uncapped Shahrukh was bagged by Punjab Kings in the IPL mini-auction in February. Shahrukh had his base price of Rs 20 lakh but he went to Punjab Kings for Rs 5.25 crore. Delhi Capitals, RCB, and Punjab Kings all made the bids for him, but in the end, the winning bid was made by Punjab Kings.
Shahrukh was in remarkable form in this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and he had a major hand in Tamil Nadu winning the title for the second time.
Meanwhile, when it comes to bowling, the pace-bowling attack of Punjab Kings has a classy look to it with Mohammad Shami leading the pack in the company of Chris Jordan, Jhye Richardson, Arshdeep Singh and Riley Meredith.
The spin-attack will be headed by U19 World Cup star Ravi Bishnoi while Murugan Ashwin and Saurabh Kumar are also in the squad to extend their support. Punjab Kings will play against Rajasthan Royals in their first game on April 12 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.