IPL 2017: There is no need to panic, says Kieron Pollard

It was a roller-coaster ride not recommended for weak hearts. From what seemed to be a comfortable victory after having reduced Mumbai Indians to 121 for four, needing to defend another 110 runs in 44 deliveries, Kings XI Punjab held their nerves when it mattered most.

It was not easy, though. Kings XI Punjab could have lost as the big-hitting Kieron Pollard went berserk with his massive hits sailing over the fence into the roaring Wankhede crowd.

But, KXIP need not worry when they have last over specialist Mohit Sharma. After being hit for a six off the second ball of the last over by Pollard, Mohit bowled three consecutive dot balls, varying the length from yorker to knuckle ball that was just out of the swinging Pollard’s bat.

Even when Pollard was going great guns, almost single handedly winning it for the two-time champions with a 24-ball 50 not out. Tension mounted among those watching. Some may even have missed their heart beats.

But it is a different kind of tension for the players, there is a job still to be still completed. Pollard put things in perspective about what players go through in such pressure situations in a high-octane T20 game.

“These are the moments you practice for. This is what professional sport and cricket is all about,” Pollard said, wiping his sweat from the forehead with a towel moments after playing a blinder that nearly clinched the deal for Mumbai Indians.

“For us (players), once you are in the middle, the pressure is not as hard as actually watching it. For me, I was in the middle, it was pretty easy. I don’t know how the other guys are feeling in the pavilion or in the dugout. Once you are in the middle, the pressure is different. You are trying to do the job to the best of the ability.”

Mumbai Indians may have achieved their initial goal of entering the Play-offs but they may still be concerned about their two back-to-back defeats. But Pollard said that there was nothing to worry for them.

“It just proves we are humans, we can’t win each and every game. We keep improving. We had a dismal performance against Sunrisers but we bounced back very well here,” the 29-year-old from Trinidad said.

“We fought. At the end of the day, we play against oppositions, we play against cricketers who are professionals in their own right. It is not always you turn up and win a cricket game. There is no need to panic. In life, there is always someone else who is suffering than you. We’ve got to keep our head high. We have qualified. First step in every tournament is qualifying. It just shows we can make mistakes. We lost two games in a row. We pick the momentum. We win the next three and we actually hold the championship feeling.”

Pollard walked in to bat at the fall of skipper Rohit Sharma’s wicket in the 12th over. MI needed another 112 to win in 50 deliveries. He was there till the end, taking all the strike in the last over sent down by Mohit, even guilty of one-short when he was desperate to retain strike and also sending back Harbhajan Singh when a run was on so that he could have a go at nine runs in the last three deliveries. 

It would have been a record run-chase in IPL history had MI chased down 231. “It was a very good wicket. As you can see, plenty of runs were scored. Also, it was a good cricket match as well. In T20, when a side scores 230, more often you don’t give yourself a chance. It was very good on our part to get as close as possible.

“In the end, we did not. It was a great game of cricket. It was bowlers’ graveyard. We stuck to our guns. These are the sort of games you want going into the Playoffs. Saha batted pretty well. Maxi (Maxwell) as well. Guptill, on his part, took the initiative right from the start. Someone has to win and someone has to lose, and we were on the losing side,” Pollard reflected on the outcome.