“Still a Nightmare” – Kieron Pollard’s Sensational Knock Continues to Haunt Super Kings Franchise

Kieron Pollard's knock against TSK helped MI New York set up a thrilling MLC 2025 final against defending champions Washington Freedom.

“Still a Nightmare” – Kieron Pollard’s Sensational Knock Continues to Haunt Super Kings Franchise

Kieron Pollard scored a match-winning 47-run knock off 22 balls for MI New York, against Texas Super Kings in the MLC. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

West Indies’ Kieron Pollard might have turned 38 years old, but the magic has not died down, as he came out to haunt the Super Kings franchise once again. The veteran all-rounder scored a match-winning knock of 47 runs, to take MI New York to the 2025 MLC final. 

MI New York cruised into the final of the ongoing MLC season, crushing high-flying Texas Super Kings by seven wickets in a thrilling encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. The result was heartbreaking for TSK, who had already seen their luck fade in the first qualifier, where Washington Freedom advanced to the final due to their higher position in the standings, after the match was called off due to rain. 

Batting first in the ‘Challenger’, Texas Super Kings managed to post a competitive first innings total of 166/5. Skipper Faf du Plessis once again came to the rescue for his side, scoring a crucial 42-ball 59. He was assisted by Akeal Hosein, who scored a rapid 55 off 32 deliveries, and Donovan Ferreira, who added a brisk 32 off 20 balls. For MINY, Tristan Luus claimed a three-wicket haul, while Rushil Ugarkar took two.

MINY’s response to the 167-run target started off dismally, as they lost Quinton de Kock and Michael Bracewell early. However, Monank Patel anchored the innings, scoring 49 off 39 balls to stabilize the chase and put MINY back in contention. Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard then took the responsibility to take the team over the line, forging an unbeaten 89-run partnership to end with 172/3 in 19 overs.

Pollard scored 47 off 22 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes, while Pooran joined him in the attack, scoring 52 off 36, as the duo scored big in the final three overs, notably hitting 23 runs off the 17th over and 19 runs off 19th over. Although Pollard’s bowling was unimpressive, he compensated with his powerful batting, despite being 38 years old and having retired from international cricket.

Interestingly, Kieron Pollard’s POTM display also served as a reminder of his long-standing dominance against the Super Kings franchises. In the MLC this season, Pollard has scores of 32 and 70 in the two groups stage encounter against TSK, both of those however, coming in a losing cause. His record against Chennai Super Kings, TSK’s sister-side, in the Indian Premier League highlights how ruthless he has been.

While playing for Mumbai Indians, Pollard has amassed 636 runs in 25 innings, at an average of 35.33 and a strike rate of 169.60. His notable performances against CSK include a stunning 87 off 34 balls in the 2021 IPL season and a crucial 60 off 32 in the 2013 IPL final.

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Fans Erupt Over Kieron Pollard’s Match-Winning Knock Against TSK, in the MLC Challenger

As Kieron Pollard scored a 47-run knock to help MI New York triumph over Texas Super Kings in the 2025 MLC Challenger, fans shared their enthusiastic reactions. Many reminisced about his past performances in the IPL, recalling how Pollard was a ‘nightmare’ for Chennai Super Kings.

Kieron Pollard vs Super Kings
Kieron Pollard knock against Texas Super Kings reminded fans of his past exploits against the Chennai franchise in the IPL. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

Fans took to social media to express their reactions, with many humorously suggesting that the 38-year-old Kieron Pollard harbors a deep affection for Super Kings franchises all over the world. Others noted that the MLC Challenger played out similarly to past IPL matches, including the 2015 final between MI and CSK, where Pollard scored a quickfire 36 off 18 to power his team past 200.

Following his heroics against TSK in the Challenger, Kieron Pollard is now the seventh-highest run-scorer in the ongoing MLC season. He has scored 317 runs in 11 matches so far, maintaining a strong average of 45.29 and a staggering strike rate of 178.09.