Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all-rounder Krunal Pandya gave a unique send-off to Mumbai Indians (MI) cricketer Kieron Pollard during their game at the Wankhede Stadium. Incidentally, the Lucknow franchise thrashed the five-time IPL champions by 36 runs to enter the top four in the points table.
Chasing 169 runs, Mumbai never got going with Ishan Kishan struggling to get his timing right. Rohit Sharma found a few boundaries but he was miles away from his best. Once the floodgates were open, Mumbai lost a couple of wickets to reel at 67/4.
The onus was on young Tilak Varma and Kieron Pollard to steer the run chase. Varma played a couple of shots but Pollard failed to get going yet again, putting too much pressure on the 19-year-old cricketer from Hyderabad. The southpaw holed out to Ravi Bishnoi, trying to break the shackles.
The 34-year-old West Indian all-rounder also followed the suit. With 39 runs required off the last over, Kieron Pollard looped one to the long-on fielder and Deepak Hooda completed an easy catch. After dismissing Pollard, Krunal Pandya celebrated the wicket joyously and kissed his former teammate on his helmet. Pollard having a good rapport with Pandya did not respond to the gesture although he did not seem to take it in bad taste.
Watch the clip here:
https://twitter.com/urstruly7_/status/1518290358702309378?s=20&t=lAgG1FkTmAZp_ZHRhJMcXw
Krunal Pandya eventually gave only two runs and picked up three wickets in the 20th over to hand Mumbai Indians their eighth defeat of the season. No other team has lost their first eight games in the history of the IPL.
“He would have eaten my head throughout my life”- Krunal Pandya on Kieron Pollard
Reacting to his strange celebration, Krunal Pandya admitted that he is thankful he could dismiss Kieron Pollard. Incidentally, Pollard had earlier dismissed the Baroda all-rounder, so it’s 1-1 now. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Pandya said:
“I was so thankful that I got his (Pollard) wicket otherwise he would have eaten my brain throughout my life because he got me out and now that it’s 1-1 at least he will speak less.”
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