Mumbai Indians’ batting coach Kieron Pollard has put his weight behind under-fire Rohit Sharma ahead of the IPL clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday. Rohit has failed to deliver the goods for the five-time champions in the first three matches of the tournament, returning with scores of 0, 8, and 13.
The veteran has been found wanting and he would want to turn the tables against Rishabh Pant’s team. Rohit had recently scored 180 runs in five matches of the successful Champions Trophy run, and also scored a match-winning 76 in the final against New Zealand.
Kieron Pollard said in the pre-match presser, “There are times when you have a couple of low scores… he has earned the right as an individual to now enjoy his cricket and not be pressurized in certain situations. So let’s not judge on a couple of low scores. In cricket, we know we fail more than we succeed and I’m sure we’ll be singing his praises when he gives us that big score and then we’ll be on to the next hot topic.
“I’ve played alongside Rohit since Under-19 cricket and he has forged his name and etched his name in history in the record books, in different situations, different formats of the game. He is a legend of the game in his own right and as an individual as well.”
The former MI all-rounder reckons adapting to different pitches in IPL is the key to success.
“For me and for us, I think it’s more about adaptability in whatever is presented on a particular day. As a former player and management, you want to be able to prepare for any eventuality and you try to control things that you can control, and the nature of the surfaces is something that we can’t control as a management and as a playing group.
“So whatever is presented, that’s how you get to be called world-class and legends that you are able to adapt to anything that is in front of you,” Pollard said.
MI will take on LSG in Lucknow on Friday.
