Kieron Pollard, when began his campaign in IPL 2019 for Mumbai Indians, wasn’t in the best of forms with the bat. These days, he doesn’t contribute with the ball. So, some believed it was better to let him go for someone like Ben Cutting.
But Mumbai Indians kept believing in him. Despite his failures, the franchise kept him in the playing XI. The trust in Pollard finally paid off in the game against Chennai Super Kings. The right-hander scored 17 runs from 7 balls to help his side reach a respectable total of 170/5 from 20 overs.
However, his cameo with the bat was overshadowed by his fielding effort. He is as reliable as anyone in the game when it comes to catching. Over the years, the Caribbean all-rounder has taken some breathtaking catches.
Kieron Pollard’s stunning catch to dismiss Suresh Raina
At the Wankhede Stadium, against CSK, he produced another screamer that made jaws drop at the venue. It was the 5th over of the CSK innings. Jason Behrendorff, making his debut for the franchise, was in the middle of a good spell. He had already dismissed Ambati Rayudu for a duck earlier in the game.
Raina was lining up to face the last ball of the powerplay. The pacer delivered a widish delivery that was short of length. The batsman gave it a full swing and connected the ball pretty well. He was so sure of the ball going over the ropes that he didn’t even bother to run.
But Kieron Pollard, stationed at deep point, had other ideas. He took a step forward but realized he had to backtrack a couple of steps. Pollard stuck his right hand up and plucked the ball out of thin air. After a full-length dive upwards, he dropped on the ground but ensured that the ball didn’t pop out as he made contact with the ground.
For a moment, Raina couldn’t believe what had struck him. He was not only denied a six but also made to go out of the ground. Pollard has taken plenty of such catches in the past. But this one could well end up as the catch of the season.
Twitterati saluted the magnificent catch by Kieron Pollard
Might not be playing his best with the bat in hand but he is still as good a fielder as any in the game.
Boy!! What a catch that was @KieronPollard55. Already the catch of the #IPL2019 #MIvCSK
— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) April 3, 2019
UNREAL CATCHING FROM THE SUPERMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #MIvCSK pic.twitter.com/gQaOplc4RM
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 3, 2019
Helps to be tall! Also helps if you can catch like that! #KieronPollard
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 3, 2019
Incredible effort by Pollard to dismiss Raina who was just beginning to look threatening. Best catch of the season surely. Perhaps the best ever in the history of the IPL! Mumbai Indians on top!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/Ponty100mph/status/1113488235043356672?s=19
https://twitter.com/kanish_rana/status/1113488264558600192?s=19
What. A. Catch. Doubt we will see a better catch this #IPL #Pollard #MIvCSK
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 3, 2019
Kieron Pollard at Wankhede Stadium in IPL
2013: Took a blinder of Shaun Marsh at long-on
2019: Takes an amazing catch of Suresh Raina at sweeper cover
In 2013, Pollard dropped three catches off three successive balls of Michael Hussey. #MIvCSK
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) April 3, 2019
Ooooo Pollyyyyyy 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼 #ipl
— Danielle Wyatt (@Danni_Wyatt) April 3, 2019
Still think MI may be short. That burst from Pollard & Hardik should have lasted for 2 more overs ideally. Which essentially means Suryakumar Yadav had to go big sooner. Krunal showed intent, Surya seemed content. 170 still competitive. And MI a better bowling unit. #MIvCSK #IPL
— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) April 3, 2019
MS Dhoni becomes the second player to score 4,000 T20 runs for CSK after Suresh Raina.#MIvCSK
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 3, 2019
Wonder if facing enough of Bumrah in the nets is helping Indian batsmen play him better. Pant the other day and Kedar today.#MIvCSK
— Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) April 3, 2019
Wicket Pahije lavkar
— Suresh Menon ☆☆☆☆☆ (@sureshnmenon) April 3, 2019
Also Read: Who will win the ODI World Cup 2019? Here are the top 5 contenders
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
