Pollard set to step down as MI London men's head coach
Kieron Pollard will leave his coaching role at MI London before the 2027 Hundred season, with the franchise facing changes on both the men's and women's sides.
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MI London's men's head coaching position will be vacant ahead of the 2027 Hundred season after Kieron Pollard is reportedly stepping away from the role. The West Indian great took charge at the Oval-based franchise in 2026, filling the gap left when Mahela Jayawardene departed in October, while simultaneously holding the head coach position at Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Pollard is understood to be taking time away from his coaching commitments after a single campaign in charge.
The 2026 Hundred men's season saw MI London, captained by Sam Curran, finish fourth in the standings. Their campaign ended on the same points tally as Manchester Super Giants, but an inferior net run-rate proved decisive, with Sunrisers Leeds also involved in the congested section of the table at that stage. Despite the narrow elimination, Pollard oversaw a competitive campaign before deciding to step aside.
Coaching changes are also under way on the women's side. MI London's women's team endured a disappointing campaign in The Hundred last season, finishing at the bottom of the table with just one win from eight matches. It remains unclear whether Lisa Keightley, who recently stepped down as Mumbai Indians' head coach in the WPL, will return to lead the London-based side next season.
What does Pollard's departure mean for MI London's coaching structure?
Pollard's exit leaves MI London searching for a new men's head coach well ahead of the 2027 season. The support structure around him has also been disrupted. Gareth Batty, who served as one of Pollard's assistant coaches at MI London, has left his position as Surrey's men's head coach to join Chennai Super Kings in an assistant coaching capacity. Batty's move removes another familiar face from the setup that guided the club through the 2026 campaign.
What else is happening in the Hundred coaching landscape?
As reported by Cricinfo, Birmingham Phoenix parted ways with men's head coach Shane Bond last month. Interviews for the vacancy are scheduled for this week, with Jonathan Trott understood to be among the candidates being considered for the position.
The Hundred's retention window, which opened last week and closes in mid-January, is also running concurrently. Franchises are permitted to hold on to as many as 16 players at their existing price points. A rule change confirmed for 2027 will allow each team to include a fifth overseas player in their squad, although no more than four overseas players may appear in any single XI.
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