Beyond the last over: Kieron Pollard on learning from MS Dhoni’s Impact, defends Hardik Pandya’s bowling

The Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday. Batting coach Kieron Pollard addressed the media after the match, offering insights into Hardik Pandya’s performance, bowling at the Wankhede, and the legendary MS Dhoni.

Hardik Pandya Fighting Spirit

Kieron Pollard acknowledged Hardik Pandya’s strong work ethic and confidence. He emphasized that good and bad days are inevitable in cricket, and that Pandya is dedicated to improvement. Pollard urged fans to support Pandya, highlighting his potential as a valuable all-rounder for India.

“He’s a confident guy. He has been great around the group. You have good and bad days in cricket. And I’m seeing an individual working hard to continue his skill and apply his trade,” Kieron Pollard said in the post-match press conference.

“You’re going to have those days. Cricket is a team sport, after all. This individual will represent the country in less than six weeks. We’ll all be cheering for him and wanting him to do well. So it’s time we try to encourage him and stop nitpicking.”

“And, see if we can get the best out of one of the greats around us that India could ever produce. He can bat, bowl, and field and has an x-factor about him. And, you know, I hope very well, deep down within my heart, that when he comes out on top, I’ll sit back, and I’ll watch everyone sing his praises.”

MS Dhoni Impact: Beyond Last Over

While MS Dhoni’s explosive cameo in the final over swung the momentum in CSK’s favor, Pollard believes the focus should extend beyond that. He highlighted Dhoni’s long-standing legacy and the bigger picture of team performance. Pollard emphasized the importance of learning from the overall game, rather than dwelling on individual moments.

“For each player, it doesn’t matter, MS, Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or Hardik Pandya, you have plans for how you want to bowl to them. You go back and look to see if it was executed,” the Pollard said.

“But again, MS has been world-class for years upon years. We love to see him on the cricket field and in stadiums. We’re all in awe of what he has accomplished. Again, the scoreline — the 20 runs — is the difference. But cricket is much more than what we see at the end. That’s where we need to educate ourselves a little more. Yes, he had three sixes and 20 runs in the last over, but anyone could have also gone for 20 runs in the previous over. So, for us, it’s much deeper than that,” he added.

“We will dissect, as we have done throughout the tournament, do our homework, and try to return better as a team.”

Bowling challenges at Wankhede

Kieron Pollard acknowledged the difficulty of bowling at the Wankhede Stadium, known for being batsman-friendly. He praised Jasprit Bumrah’s consistent excellence and expressed confidence in the team’s bowling unit. He expects them to learn from this experience and improve as the tournament progresses.

“It’s tough for any bowler around the world and in India to bowl at Wankhede,” he said.

“Jasprit has been phenomenal for us. He continues to show that he’s a step above the rest. And, again, it’s just for us as a bowling group to continue to learn and get better. That’s the most we can do as individuals.”

“Again, it’s coming. It’s coming. It’s a long tournament. When you look at our attack, some guys are young in international and franchise cricket. We hope you know that with continuous practice and process, we will execute and start looking better as a bowling team.” he added.

Kieron Pollard and Dwyane Bravo: Shared Passion

Kieron Pollard revealed his ongoing dialogue with former teammate and current CSK bowling coach Dwayne Bravo. They share their cricketing knowledge and support each other’s teams despite playing on opposite sides. Pollard sees this collaboration as a way to contribute to the development of young players globally.

“One thing I’ll tell you is that even throughout the IPL and all over the world, if we play on different teams, we always speak to each other about cricket,” Polly said of his bond with the CSK Bowling Coach.

“We all want to learn, improve, and help our respective teams. Bravo has done well for himself as a player and continues to do well now as a coach. So, no matter the date and time, we always speak cricket and learn from each other.”

“At the end of the day, it’s being passed on. The guys bowled well today, so kudos to them. But there are days when we would have bowled well and batted well. So, as I said, our relationship is great. We continue to share knowledge and try to help youngsters, not only in the Caribbean but all around the world, get better so we can all sit back and watch them take cricket further going forward,” he concluded.

Mumbai Indians: Learning and Improvement

The MI camp remains optimistic despite the setback. Pollard emphasized the importance of continuous learning and evolution for players. He expressed faith in the team’s ability to bounce back and stressed their commitment to achieving their ultimate goal – MI’s sixth IPL title.

The MUM-boys will now face Punjab Kings on April 18 – the first of four matches on the road.