Reason why Kieron Pollard holds the key for MI in the IPL final against RPS

Kieron Pollard burst into the international scene with his innings against New South Wales in Champions League T20 2009 at Hyderabad, where he single-handedly took his side towards an improbable victory out of nowhere. Pollard came it number 8 in the Trinidad and Tobago line-up, with 50 needed from just 24 balls, and smashed 54 off just 18 balls.

Life wasn’t the same for the big man since that innings as he went for big bucks in the IPL auction next year. Six teams bid for the Trinidadian and Pollard finally was bagged by Mumbai Indians. Fast forward eight years from the innings he played that night, he yet again holds the key in a vital fixture of the IPL on the same ground which changed the fortunes for the lanky West Indian.

Records in finals

Keiron Pollard is an asset to have in any team, but during the finals of the IPL, he has a tendency to play out of his skin. Mumbai Indians recently came out with an encouraging tweet which highlights the chronicles of the West Indian during the crunch situation of the IPL finals.

The 30-year-old averages a mammoth 61.5 and hit them at a strike rate of 205 in tournament finals. He has played some of the most memorable innings when it comes to the big stage in the IPL. Mumbai Indians social media team took to Twitter to post about Polly’s achievements in the finals, which would give headaches to the Rising Pune Supergiant supporters heading into the big game.

.@KieronPollard55's record in IPL finals:
Average – 61.5
SR – 205
Another big match, another big performance? ?#CricketMeriJaan #BELI3VE pic.twitter.com/uQa7P2SicE

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 21, 2017

Pollard has been exceptional in the finals of 2010, 2013 and 2015. MS Dhoni would fondly remember all of those innings as Mumbai Indians faced Chennai Super Kings in these finals. CSK lost two out of the three finals against Mumbai and it was none other than Polly who was responsible for their defeat.

Dhoni would yet again stand behind him at Hyderabad perfectly wary of his capabilities in the finals. Pollard has already played a blinder against RCB this season by snatching a victory from the Bangalore-based team from the jaws of defeat and will be interesting to see what he has on offer tonight.