IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard hoping for title repeat in UAE

The IPL 2021 season is set to resume in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 19. The Mumbai Indians will take on MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in the supper Sunday game, hoping to defend their title and register the tournament’s first hattrick. The team’s premier all-rounder since 2011, Kieron Pollard hopes they can repeat the 2020 feat. 

Pollard arrived in Abu Dhabi to join the team bubble on Friday. He comes after leading the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2021. Since Pollard played CPL, he will undergo two-day isolation before joining Mumbai Indians bubble.

Also read: Asia Cup to 5 IPL titles: Key moments of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy

The West Indian said that the team has “good memories” from their campaign last year in the UAE. Rohit Sharma and company defeated Delhi Capitals by five wickets in the IPL 2020 final to win a fifth IPL crown, the most by any team or captain. 

“Yeah. Looking forward. Going downstairs in that team room and try to bond again and get started. Looking forward to finishing the IPL and hopefully we can repeat what we did here last year. Good memories for us,” Pollard said in a video posted by Mumbai Indians on their official social media handles.

Also read: IPL 2021: CSK fans relieved to see Sam Curran join team camp in UAE

Mumbai Indians will resume the season on the fourth rung of the points table. The tournament was postponed in May after a COVID-19 outbreak in the IPL bio-bubble across teams.

Also read: BCCI may approach Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman for Team India head coach role

Like almost every season, Mumbai Indians made a slow start to their campaign. The five-time winners started 2021 with a loss in the opening match to Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore. They then bounced back with consecutive wins before losing two games against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings respectively. The team then registered two wins – first one by seven wickets against the Rajasthan Royals and then in a last-ball thriller versus Chennai Super Kings. They come with eight points in seven matches, four behind tournament leaders Delhi Capitals.