Chennai Super Kings‘ strategy of placing a straight long-on almost exactly in front of the sightscreen led to Kieron Pollard’s dismissal, with fans and pundits on social media praising the clever move.
Pollard, who retired from international cricket on April 20, came in at No.7 for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings, taking his time to get going with the bowlers maintaining tight control. Before spinner Maheesh Theekshana got ready to bowl the first ball of the 17th over to Pollard, MS Dhoni, former CSK skipper, appeared to tweak the existing field, placing the long-off fielder Shivam Dube extremely straight, almost in line with the stumps.
The move worked instantly. Theekshana proceeded to bowl a slow, short ball to Pollard outside off stump, with the batter looking to muscle the ball over the very fielder who had been stationed straight in line. He didn’t get enough power though, with Dube latching onto the catch right at the boundary line.
Over the years, Dhoni has brought about unusual field placements for Pollard in the IPL – in 2010, he famously put Matthew Hayden straighter than usual at mid-off, with Pollard playing into his hands right away and offering the fielder a catch. Incidentally, the venue on both occasions was DY Patil Stadium.
“I think he’s played to Pollard’s arrogance here”, Harsha Bhogle said on commentary. “Pollard said ‘I don’t care whether the fielder’s there, I am going to clear him. You keep a fielder there, I’ll hit it right over his head. It’s gone off right at the bottom of the bat, and the moment he hit it he said ‘Oh dear!'”
You can watch the dismissal here:
There were plenty of praise for Dhoni and CSK on social media:
It has a difference of 12 years – similar kind of dismissals of Pollard. pic.twitter.com/MQbDHkxyaE
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 21, 2022
Unbelievable how Pollard keeps getting out caught straight on the boundary line. Remember IPL 2017 final too when MS was behind the stumps. This strategy was first used by MS in IPL 2010 final at the same venue inside the 30 yd circle. In T20 WC 2021 Pretorius got Pollard out too
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) April 21, 2022
Fielder moves straight for Pollard and he gets caught out exactly there…..for the third time at least vs Dhoni. Pure ego that from Pollard to try and clear that exact fielder. #MIvsCSK #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/vWck5gr7Jc
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) April 21, 2022
D Y Patil, Pollard and CSK!
2010: CSK keep Hayden at have Pollard caught at mid long on.
2022: CSK keep Dube at long-on to get Pollard out.
Life. Works in mysterious ways.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 21, 2022
Pollard holes out again to the straight fielder on the boundary. His ego never fails to get the better of him.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) April 21, 2022
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