Kieron Pollard has pulled out of the upcoming SA20 season with Joburg Super Kings. The decision came just one day after he was named Mumbai Indians’ new head coach for IPL 2027. The news was reported by Cricbuzz.
Pollard was bought by Joburg Super Kings for R1.5 million at the SA20 auction on October 7. But he has now told the franchise he will not be available. This avoids a potentially awkward situation in franchise cricket. Joburg Super Kings are owned by the Chennai Super Kings group. Mumbai Indians’ owners also run MI Cape Town in the SA20. Pollard had played for MI Cape Town in the past.
The Mumbai Indians announced Pollard’s promotion from batting coach to head coach on October 24. Before that, an MI source said the franchise had no problem with Pollard playing for another team in a different league. The source said, “It’s up to KP on the matter. We have given no instructions.” Pollard then informed the Joburg Super Kings of his unavailability.
CSK chief executive Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the decision. He said Pollard told them he will not be able to play for the Joburg Super Kings. Viswanathan said the team will now look for a replacement.
Pollard takes over from Mahela Jayawardene. Jayawardene won three IPL titles in his first stint with Mumbai Indians from 2017 to 2022. He returned for a second spell but left the role earlier this month. Mumbai Indians finalised Pollard’s name three to four days before the official announcement. They called him to Mumbai for talks on Thursday. The appointment was confirmed after a couple of rounds of discussions.
The franchise sees Pollard’s stature and long association with the Mumbai Indians as key reasons for the decision. As a franchise legend, he has the respect of the dressing room, including senior players. This makes him a strong choice to lead the team.
Pollard won five IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians as a player. He retired from the tournament after the 2022 season. He then stayed with the franchise as batting coach. This is his first head coaching role with Mumbai Indians. The fifth season of SA20 is scheduled from January 17 to February 21, 2027.
…Outlines the Mumbai Indians Coaching Approach
Kieron Pollard has been named the new head coach of Mumbai Indians. He replaces Mahela Jayawardene. Pollard previously served as the team’s batting coach after retiring as a player in 2022. This is his first head coaching role in the IPL.
Pollard said he wants his team to be brave. He wants them to overcome the fear of failure. He also wants to show Mumbai Indians fans that the team has “fire in our belly”. He admitted the most challenging part will be if results do not go their way. But he said nothing will faze him.
Pollard spoke about his approach to the job. He said the fun part is being able to set the tone for the team. He called himself a Caribbean guy who values fun, entertainment, and relaxation. He believes players perform better in that kind of environment. He identified man-management as the biggest part of the job. He said it comes down to one-on-one conversations with players. He noted that cricket is made up of individuals who must each play their role for the team to win.
Pollard also discussed the changing nature of T20 cricket. He said scoring trends have shifted a lot. Teams used to aim for 140 or 160. Now they try not to concede 120 in the powerplay alone. He said the game has become more batter-friendly. But he sees adaptation as the challenge. He said bowlers will have to work harder to slow batters down.
On the use of data, Pollard said it is important. But he believes the natural instinct of cricketers must still be respected. He said there needs to be a balance between data and the human side of the game.
Pollard also praised Mahela Jayawardene, the previous head coach. He called him a tactical genius. He said Jayawardene was very precise and detailed in his planning. Pollard said he learned a lot from working under him as a player, assistant, and batting coach. He called himself blessed to have had that experience.
FAQs
Q. Why did Kieron Pollard withdraw from SA20 2027?
A. Pollard withdrew after being appointed Mumbai Indians head coach for IPL 2027.
Q. Which SA20 team had signed Kieron Pollard?
A. Joburg Super Kings bought Pollard for R1.5 million at the auction.
Q. Who did Kieron Pollard replace as the Mumbai Indians’ head coach?
A. Pollard replaced Mahela Jayawardene as Mumbai Indians head coach.
Q. When will SA20 2027 take place?
A. The fifth SA20 season is scheduled from January 17 to February 21, 2027.
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