Kieron Pollard: ‘We always had that belief that Rohit is going to come good’
Rohit Sharma may have started IPL 2025 quietly, but he’s recently found form, hitting consecutive 70s in his latest outings. Mumbai Indians’ (MI) batting coach, Kieron Pollard, is thrilled to see his prediction about Rohit’s form come true.
Rohit struggled initially, amassing only 82 runs in his first six innings, battling not just form but also injury, missing one match. Questions arose, and Pollard was asked about MI’s experienced batter’s struggles. “If my memory serves me right, at the start of this competition, that question was different,” Pollard said. “I said sitting right here, we are also going to be singing his praises as an individual. For us, we always had that belief that he is going to come good.”
Pollard acknowledges the ups and downs in a long cricketing career. “There are dips. There is low confidence. But for someone who has played this sport for a long time, you have these moments. Sometimes you just need that extra support from people. Now we are singing his praises,” he shared.
Mumbai had a rocky start, losing four out of their first five matches but have since gathered momentum with four straight wins. This slow start and eventual strong finish is somewhat typical for MI. Pollard mentioned it boils down to “some teams gelling faster,” while others take time to find their rhythm. MI seems to have discovered their stride, as Pollard noted, “found a sort of a method” that is working.
While there’s no specific “more important” part of the IPL season, Pollard emphasised the significance of maintaining form and confidence throughout. “It all depends on form and confidence of the team,” he explained. “The most important thing is trying to qualify for the playoffs and get into the final.”
Pollard also commended MI’s captain, Hardik Pandya, who faced challenges last season. Despite initial backlash, this season has been much smoother for him. With his batting strike rate at an impressive 170.49, Hardik has shown he is an adept leader both on and off the field.
