One of cricket's most explosive all-rounders nowadays is Kieron Pollard. Pollard, is well-known for his strong hitting, acrobatic fielding, and useful medium-pacer bowling. He was born in Trinidad and Tobago on May 12, 1987, and played a major role for the West Indies and several T20 teams worldwide.
Pollard has established himself as one of the greatest T20 cricket players in history despite never having played Test cricket. Pollard is a match-winner in T20 leagues, particularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
International Career
Pollard made his One Day International (ODI) debut on April 10, 2007, against South Africa, and his T20 International (T20I) debut on June 20, 2008, against Australia. Although he never played Test cricket, he became a crucial member of the West Indies’ limited-overs teams. His remarkable 55-run innings off 18 balls against New Zealand at the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy brought him widespread recognition for his power-hitting prowess. Pollard had a significant role in the West Indies team's victory at the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup, which was their first-ever T20 championship. In 2019, he was appointed captain of the West Indies ODI and T20I teams, leading them until 2022. He made history in 2021 by becoming only the third player in international cricket to hit six sixes in an over, achieving this feat against Sri Lanka's Akila Dananjaya. In April 2022, Pollard announced his retirement from international cricket to focus on franchise leagues.
Franchise and T20 League Career
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Pollard played for the Mumbai Indians (MI) till 2022 after signing a contract with them in 2010. His performances helped MI win multiple titles, making him a symbol of the team.
Five-time IPL Champion (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020).
Scored over 3,400 IPL runs with a strike rate above 145. Took 69 wickets and played several match-winning knocks. After retiring, he became MI’s batting coach in 2023.
Caribbean Premier League (CPL)
Played for Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and Barbados Tridents.
Pollard played in almost every major T20 league, including:
Pakistan Super League (PSL)
Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans.
Big Bash League (BBL): Adelaide Strikers.
The Hundred (England): London Spirit.
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)
Dhaka Gladiators.
Achievements
2012 ICC T20 World Cup Winner with West Indies.
One of the most successful all-rounders in T20 history, he recorded over 12,000 T20 runs and more than 300 wickets.
In an international match, hit six sixes in a single over.
He is among the most experienced players in the format, having participated in more than 600 T20 matches.
Five-time IPL Champion with Mumbai Indians.
Conclusion
Kieron Pollard has left an indelible mark on limited-overs cricket. His ability to hit sixes at will, along with his leadership and all-round skills, made him one of the most feared T20 cricketers. Even after retiring from international cricket, he continues to influence the game through coaching and playing in franchise leagues worldwide.
