Kieron Pollard, a former all-rounder for the Mumbai Indians (MI) and West Indies, has thought back on his tense encounter with Virat Kohli and Mitchell Starc during the 2014 Indian Premier League. Tensions erupted in the 17th over of the hosts’ innings during a Mumbai vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) game at Wankhede Stadium when Pollard walked aside when Starc was running up, causing the bowler to hit him. Pollard flung his bat back at Starc in rage.
As the scene became more heated, Virat Kohli intervened to settle things down, but Pollard remained angry as the two players exchanged words. Pollard recently spoke up about the incident, saying that his friendship with Kohli and Starc was unaffected and that it was a passionate moment. According to News24 Sports, he stated:
“We (Kohli and him) have been in the same space together, and we played a lot of international cricket after that. We both captained our international teams. So we had a lot of different conversations. That didn’t change anything; as I said, it happened on the cricket field and once it’s finished, it’s done.”
Kieran Pollard
“Same with Mitchell Starc, coming up against him even recently, playing against him in international cricket. Again, we all have those instances, and the way that franchise cricket has been brought about as well, you get the opportunity to sit with a lot of these guys and conversate and understand them from a human level rather than just a sporting level, when you’re coming up against them in that sort of sphere. So again, all well, everything is well. We played hard at that point in time. Most importantly, Mumbai Indians won that game.”
Kieran Pollard
Mumbai registered a 19-run win after posting 188 on the board, defending the target with discipline. The game, however, also saw a heated moment as Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc were penalized—Pollard losing 75% of his match fee and Starc 50%.
“From a Small Boy to a Man” – Kieran Pollard on Hardik Pandya’s Cricketing Journey
Mumbai Indians batting coach Pollard looked back on the story of captain Hardik Pandya later. He commented on the progress of Pandya over the years and how the well-rounded player has grown up into a mature player and an individual who knows how to cope with the good and bad days of cricket and life.
“I’ve seen him from a youngster in Mumbai Indians, and I’ve seen him from a small boy into a man. He’s gotten himself into trouble, part and parcel of life. We tend to ridicule people, but again, we are all human beings, and we all make mistakes. But he was able to come out of that and, recently, be a World Cup winner for India as well. So again, he’s someone that I’d said I’ve seen from growth, from a young boy into a man, and long may that continue for the rest of his career.”
Kieran Pollard
Hardik Pandya will return to action on Friday, September 19, when India face Oman in the Group A Asia Cup 2025 match in Abu Dhabi.
