Kieron Pollard… Who?

Sudeshna Guha Roy

The auction of the third season of the Indian Premier League created a furore; not only in Pakistan and India, but also throughout the world. Where on one hand, Pakistan bombarded India with its allegations of ignoring their players in the auction; on the other, the world acknowledged the surprise rise of a star, Kieron Pollard! Though it is probably too early to tag the West Indian as a ‘star’, but when a player has been preferred over the likes of Shahid Afridi, Brad Haddin and Graeme Swann (no matter whatever the reasons were) it won’t be a hyperbole to call him a star in making.After a grave tussle between four teams at the auction, it was finally the glaring beauty, Nita Ambani, who managed to bag the lad for Mumbai Indians, giving him the biggest deal in the third season of the IPL, a whopping USD 750,000. I am sure many would have wondered, ‘Why such a big deal about the player?’ I am also sure many wouldn’t even know which team he is from before logging onto the net to search for the player.So, here we bring you Kieron Pollard! The 22-year old all-rounder started his international cricket career in 2006 at the Under-19 World Cup for his team West Indies. He, however, came into limelight in August 2006 when he smashed 83 for Trinidad and Tobago in the Stanford 20/20. Five months later, he made his first-class debut in style when he hit a smashing 126, with the help of 6 sixes. His century came in mere 76 balls. And since then, there was no looking back. Nine days later came a letter from the West Indies Cricket Board, which mentioned Pollard’s name in the provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup and with it, came his chance of making an ODI debut for his national team. A World Cup match against South Africa marked Pollard’s international ODI debut, which, however, didn’t prove to be exceptional. He was later called in for the home series against Sri Lanka and Australia in April and June 2008 respectively and later for an away series against New Zealand towards the end of 2008. Later in March 2009, Pollard was included in the home series against England, and it was then when he scored his highest score in ODIs, that is, 42 runs with the help of 2 sixes and 3 boundaries. However, it was Champions League T20 in October 2009 that grabbed him the headlines. His 18-ball 54 for Trinidad & Tobago against New South Wales raised his value in the international market, after which, South Australia signed him for their domestic league. All said and done! Pollard is just too happy to be sharing the dressing room with none other than the Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar. “It is an honour to play with Sachin Tendulkar. I have grown up as a kid by watching him on the television,” said Pollard shortly after the end of the IPL auction. “It’s brilliant for me to get the chance to play in the IPL. It will be an exposure and also an opportunity to show what player Pollard can do,” he added. Speaking on his attacking brand of cricket, Pollard said, “I have full confidence on myself. You are supposed to have no doubt on yourself while playing. I just go out and try to play some big shots.” Being the hot pick at the bid, it is about time to tell if this young lad from the Caribbean would do wonders for his adopted team in India.