Mumbai Indians batsman Kieron Pollard plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 cricket match between Pune Warriors and Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Cricket stadium in Mumbai.
Mumbai Indians have the man to counter Gayle's intimidating presence as well as big hitting. In Kieron Pollard, they have an equally devastating weapon. Sadly, MI's weapon is misfiring.
Pollard gained the reputation of being one of the fiercest hitters in cricket when playing for Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural Champions League and during his first season with Mumbai Indians.
He figured prominently in MI's plans for IPL-4 after being one of the four marquee players retained by the franchisee, with Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Lasith Malinga being the others. But disappointingly, he has failed to repeat his heroics of the previous season when he was seen as a match-winner who could create something out of nothing with his big strokes.
Not effective
To the team management’s anguish, Pollard hasn't been able to find his range. There is no denying his ability to murder attacks but the runs have dried up for the burly Trinidadian. In 12 innings this season, he aggregates 143 runs (strike rate: 112.59) at an average of 15.88. He is keeping his spot only because of his fielding and bowling.
Pollard's lack of form has left MI with plenty of headaches in the batting line-up, with the main being the absence of a finisher. Their other power-hitter, Andrew Symonds, too, is out of touch and out of favour.