Indian Cricket Team Updates

The mighty Trinidad and Tobago all-rounder, Kieron Pollard, known for his explosive batting was the automatic choice to lead the Mumbai Indians in the forthcoming Champions League T20, starting September 13 in Raipur, in the absence of Rohit Sharma, who recently sustained a fractured middle finger during the second ODI against England at Cardiff.   ( Also Read:  Rohit Sharma Ruled Out of CLT20 2014 ) Pollard has been with the Mumbai Indians from IPL Season 3, and has already established a sense of seniority and gained respect among his fellow players. Pollard’s success as the captain having led the Barbados Tridents to title triumph in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has been very well-appreciated. A towering Trinidadian, Kieron Pollard is one of the hardest hitters of the cricket ball and has produced moments of brilliance for the Mumbai Indians. Pollard played a crucial role in Mumbai Indians’ triumph, during the 2013 IPL Season by smashing 29 sixes...

Many eyebrows were raised by the Mumbai Indians’ willingness to cough up a whopping USD 1 million for Glenn Maxwell at the 2013 IPL Player Auction. The surprised voices got louder with each match of IPL 2013 that Maxwell sat out – he played three matches in a tournament that MI went on to win. (Also Read:  Anil Kumble Renews Love Affair With Feroz Shah Kotla ) CLT20 2013 started on a similar note, as the Million-Dollar Man’s name was missing from the MI playing XI in their first two matches. He played against the Perth Scorchers and was again dropped in the semi-final. So, when he found himself at the crease in the final, against the Rajasthan Royals, Maxwell latched on to the chance with both hands. (Also Read:  Kieron Pollard: Fantastic To Win Two Championships In One Year ) Coming in at No.6, he smashed 37 off 14 balls to change the game in MI’s favour. Those runs made the difference in the end as MI defeated RR by 33 runs. (Also Read:  Sachin Tendulkar: ...

Although he conceded 30 runs in his first three overs, Kieron Pollard came back to claim three wickets in his last over to play a crucial in Mumbai Indians’ win over the Rajasthan Royals in the Champions League T20 2013 Final. The Caribbean all-rounder has been a huge asset to the team, contributing vital runs, bowling useful overs and fielding exceptionally well. (Also Read:  Rohit Sharma: My Team Stuck By Me Through Thick and Thin ) After winning the Karbonn Smart Champions League Twenty20, a thrilled Pollard told clt20.com, “It is a fantastic feeling to win two championships (IPL and CLT20) in one year. It is really unfortunate that we have to break up as a team now because of the fresh auctions next year. Having said that, it has been fantastic.” (Also Read:  Sachin Tendulkar: All My Dreams Have Come True ) Besides lifting the trophy, the day marked another memorable occasion given that two batting legends – Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid – bid adieu to Tw...

1 Mumbai Indians registered their first win in third attempt over the Highveld Lions. They had lost by nine runs in 2010 and by eight wickets in 2012. (Also Read:  Mumbai Indians vs Highveld Lions, M11 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) 4 Number of players to bowl a maiden over in CLT20 2013. Rishi Dhawan joined Sunil Narine, JS Paris and JM McMillan. (Also Read:  Pragyan Ojha: Bowling proper Length Was Key ) 10 Number of innings played by Sachin Tendulkar without scoring a 50 for the Mumbai Indians. He has aggregated 184 runs at an average of 20.44 during this period.  (Also Read:  Rohit Sharma, Hardus Viljoen Guilty of Level 1 Offence: MIvsLIO - CLT20 2013 ) 103 meters – the six distance for Dwaine Pretorius (off Pragyan Ojha) – the longest six in CLT20 2013. 112 Number of Twenty20 matches played by Dinesh Karthik on Indian soil – most by any batsman. He went ahead of Yusuf Pathan’s tally of 111. 286 Number of sixes hit by Kieron Pollard in Twenty20 c...

2     Number of players to aggregate 500 runs in Champions League T20. Kieron Pollard joined David Warner in doing so.    ( Also Read:   Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, M1 - Report: CLT20-2013 ) 5     Number of players to complete the all-round double of 3,000 runs and 100 wickets in Twenty20 cricket. Shane Watson joined Albie Morkel, Kieron Pollard, Azhar Mahmood and Scott Styris. 9 Number of consecutive matches won by Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur. Their last defeat here had come on May 20, 2012 when the Mumbai Indians beat them by 10 wickets. 40 Years 253 days – Rahul Dravid became the oldest to captain a side in a Champions League T20 match. 116.66 Kieron Pollard’s strike-rate in the match – his lowest in an innings where he faced 25 balls or more. Sanju Samson became the youngest player to hit a fifty in the Champions League as Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by seven wickets in Jaipur. source: clt20.com ...

There is no doubt that Kieron Pollard has been one of the most important players in the Mumbai Indians set-up this year. The all-rounder has not only shone with bat and sometimes with ball, but he has been a game-changer with his exceptional fielding as well.     (Also See:  IPL 2013 Winner Mumbai Indians Celebrations - Pics ) From plucking certain sixes in midair on the field to crafting championship-winning innings, Pollard gave his 100 percent in all departments this season.   (Also Read:  CSK vs MI - Final Report & Stats: IPL 2013 ) In an exclusive chat with IPLT20.com, this is what the West Indian all-rounder had to say about his half century against the Chennai Super Kings and winning the coveted IPL title for the first time. MI have come close before and finally with your help they got their hands around the IPL Trophy This is a great feeling! I have been playing for the Mumbai Indians for four years and to get this opportun...

‘Magic!’ was the word coach John Wright used to describe the improbable win that Kieron Pollard helped pull off through his blistering knock to take the Mumbai Indians to the top of the points table.  Chasing 179 the hosts were in a precarious position with Sachin Tendulkar retiring hurt and losing Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu in quick succession. But, fireworks from Pollard and Rohit Sharma holding up one end helped the home team turn the match on its head against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium. Wright was full of praise for the brilliant innings by the West Indies cricketer as MI registered their seventh straight victory on their home turf. The coach also showered appreciation on Sharma and his leadership ability while speaking to IPLT20.com after the win. Excerpts from the interview: On Pollard and the victory What an amazing feat of hitting. I have never seen anything like that before. It was amazing and people all over the world ...