Last Update: January 14, 2023, 10:27 AM IST
MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard (IANS Photo)
After representing the West Indies and captaining MI, Pollard looks forward to his new role as a leader with MI Emirates
Star West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard, who is leading the MI Emirates team in the inaugural ILT20, recognizes the high level of performance expected from the franchise but is confident of his players’ ability to perform under pressure situations as well.
MI Emirates will clash with Sharjah Warriors in their first campaign of ILT20 on Saturday.
“It is always a challenge when you have less time to come together and plan for a new tournament. But once you are clear and precise about what you want, it becomes much easier. It is about understanding and reducing the pressure on the boys in the new franchise so that they understand their roles. We basically break it down for them,” said Pollard, who has also captained Mumbai Indians on several occasions.
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After representing the West Indies and captaining MI, Pollard is looking forward to his new role with MI Emirates as a leader.
“Personally I still have the drive and burning desire to play cricket which keeps me motivated. As a leader, I will continue to guide these guys because they have played cricket before and that is why they are here. So, it’s just a matter of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and playing an exciting cricket that MI are known to play,” the veteran all-rounder said, referring to Mumbai Indians’ attacking style.
While the 35-year-old Exide self-confident has been a part of the successful journey of the Mi franchise in India, he also understands the responsibility of representing the Mi brand in the UAE.
“The pressure is always there, be it any franchise. But yes, more so for this franchise, because we believe in high level of performance. Having the experience of being here (with Mumbai Indians) for a while, I know what is required. I think (management) has done a great job with our team composition, trying to cover all the pieces,” Pollard was quoted as saying in a media release.
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Under the leadership of Pollard, MI Emirates also promises competition for their fans.
“Personally I still have the drive and burning desire to play cricket which keeps me motivated. From the team’s point of view, the ultimate goal is to win tournaments, but the first step is to get into tournaments, get into competitive mode, get into the playoffs and then you want to gun for the title,” he concluded.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)