Mumbai Indians enjoyed an exciting victory over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Thursday, sealing the match in the ultimate over. Nonetheless, the win was later overshadowed by an argument involving MI batting coach Kieron Pollard. Pollard has been accused of using an “audible obscenity” throughout the nineteenth over of Mumbai Indians’ run chase.
At the tip of the 18th over, MI still required 28 runs from 12 deliveries, with tension clearly visible within the dugout. England batter Will Jacks then smashed a six off Australian pacer Xavier Bartlett on the primary ball of the over to ease some pressure. Amid the tense moments within the over, an incident reportedly caused Pollard to lose his temper and use an expletive.
Neither the Indian Premier League (IPL) nor the BCCI revealed the precise moment when Kieron Pollard lost his temper or what led to the incident. Nonetheless, the previous Mumbai Indians all-rounder, who was a part of all five of the franchise’s title-winning campaigns in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, admitted his mistake.
Pollard has been fined 15 percent of his match fee and has also received one demerit point for the offence.
“Kieron Pollard, Batting Coach, Mumbai Indians has been fined 15% of his applicable match fee and accrued one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team officials. Pollard was found to have breached article 2.3 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to “use of an audible obscenity during a match.”
“The incident occurred within the nineteenth over of the second innings when Pollard used abusive language towards the fourth umpire. Pollard admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by Match Referee, Pankaj Dharmani,” an IPL release said on Friday.
Tilak Varma’s Heroics Help Mumbai Indians Beat PBKS In Last-Over Thriller
Mumbai Indians bounced back to winning ways on Thursday night with an exciting four-wicket victory after chasing down a goal of 201 with one ball remaining. Tilak Varma starred within the chase with a sensational unbeaten 75 off just 33 deliveries.
The left-hander sealed the match in style by smashing back-to-back sixes on the fourth and fifth balls of the ultimate over in a shocking exhibition of power-hitting. Tilak also shared a vital 56-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Will Jacks in just 20 balls, a stand that ultimately proved match-winning.
The victory was MI’s second win of their last three games. Nonetheless, despite the result, the five-time champions are already out of the playoff race and are actually playing just for pride.
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