Kieron Pollard's Explosive Batting Earns Him Another Game for Mumbai Indians; Smashes 4 Sixes in One Over and Scores 27 off 12 Balls

Pollard had blasted his way to 28 runs off just 13 balls, injecting new life into the game before Matthew Forde was called upon to bowl the crucial 19th over. In a display of sheer power and skill, Pollard unleashed four massive sixes against his fellow Caribbean bowler, leaving spectators in awe. Forde managed to squeeze in two dot balls, but Pollard's relentless assault culminated in a hat-trick of sixes to seal the victory for his team. With just three runs needed for the win, Alzarri Joseph smashed Akeal Hossain for a boundary to clinch the match. This impressive performance marked Pollard's first half-century in the CPL since 2021.

Pollard's assault reminded fans, especially those of Mumbai Indians, the kind of incredible things he had done for the franchise during his time as a player from 2010 to 2022. Pollard scored 3412 runs from 189 matches for MI, hitting 16 half-centuries along the way. Some of his most breathtaking knocks include 64 off 33 balls against Rajasthan Royals in 2012, 83 off 31 balls against Punjab Kings in 2019, 66 off 27 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013. However, Pollard's most unforgettable heroics remain the 60 off 24 balls he scored against Royal Challengers in IPL 2020, during which MI chased down 90 in five overs.

Watch Pollard's blitzkrieg below:

With the current MI squad failing to exude the same dominance, fans couldn't help but wonder what could have been had Pollard still been playing for the five-time champions. Some even demanded he steps out of retirement and turn MI's fortunes around. Here are some reactions from fans.

This isn't the first time fans have wanted Pollard to end his retirement. Last month, Pollard inflicted a similar damage on Trent Rockets' Rashid Khan, belting him for five consecutive sixes to take Southern Brave home in The Hundred. He had received a similar wave of encouragement back then as well, with folks on Twitter couldn't believe how MI would let Pollard go.

"For someone who has played for the WI and for St. Lucia for a period of time, wanted to give something to the crowd. We got off to a great start, young Shaq (Parris) came in and showed his talent. He set the tempo. We lost some wickets in the middle but that’s why it’s a team sport and we came in and played our part later. If it’s my role to finish games, that’s what I’ll do. Now that I’ve played a lot of cricket around the world, it’s my opportunity to give opportunities and play around others till I call it quits," Pollard said after the match.

Pollard announced his retirement from Mumbai Indians in November of 2022 before taking over as the franchise's batting coach.