“There were many players from their team who were also sledging, but only I was targeted,” explained Pollard when he was asked about his protest
When it
comes to players with a vibe on the field, it is hard to match the West Indies team. Be it hitting long sixes or dancing and singing, they have a style of their own, and therefore, it is no surprise that they brought that same flavour to the Indian Premier League (IPL). In addition to their fun vibe, the West Indies players also brought banter and aggressiveness, with Kieron Pollard being the one who went all-in on numerous occasions.
On his birthday, let us recall the time when Pollard was unhappy with umpire decisions and protested against them by taping his mouth with a duct tape.
Shut up!
During a 2015 MI vs RCB game, the Mumbai Indians set a target of 209 runs, but the Indians' bowlers faced a challenging task against Bengaluru's batting line-up.
Therefore, to disrupt Bengaluru's opener Chris Gayle’s mental peace, Pollard started sledging his West Indian teammate. Gayle, who is also known for his fun-loving attitude, did not take the sledging lightly and was annoyed by Pollard.
The incident escalated to the point where the game umpires, Richard Illingworth and Vineet Kulkarni, intervened and instructed Pollard to remain silent.
Taping his mouth
Pollard didn't appreciate the umpires' instructions. The West Indies all-rounder went into the Mumbai Indians dugout and put a tape on his mouth to protest against the umpires. Pollard’s gesture shocked both sets of players and spectators, leaving the environment gloomy.
The day Kieron Pollard took "silence" quite literally! 🤐😂
— The Cricket Katha (@TheCricketKatha) March 25, 2026
When the umpires warned him about his banter with Chris Gayle, Polly walked to the dugout, grabbed some duct tape, and did this. Peak IPL entertainment! 🍿📼👇#IPL #TataIPL2026 | @mipaltan | @KieronPollard55 pic.twitter.com/Gma2c5RRPu
On the other hand, Chris Gayle could only score 10 runs despite playing 24 games. Wickets fell in quick succession for Bengaluru, but AB de Villiers and David Weise added 41 and 47 runs, respectively, to save Bengaluru’s boat. However, the team fell short by 18 runs.
Pollard’s explanation
Explaining his action, Pollard stated, “In T20, you need to be competitive. West Indians share a bit of banter and poke each other funnily but for umpires to take it that way is a bit too much. I have been constantly targeted by umpires and referees. There were many players from their team who were also sledging, but only I was targeted.
So, I made up my mind to just shut up. I went to my physio and got the tape before putting it on my mouth. It was the only way I could show my disagreement. As umpires should understand that when you are playing in a tournament of such a competitive nature, stuff like sledging is bound to happen, and one should not take it in a negative way.”
Pollard’s IPL exploits
Krunal Pandya talking about Kieron Pollard 🥹
- Pollard is not just a player, but a mentor.
- Always supported on and off the field. 💙
- Playing with him has been a memorable experience. 🏏🔥#RCBvsMI pic.twitter.com/B0cHQJEwi2— Cricket Max Masala (@Cricket_CMM) May 10, 2026
Kieron Pollard made his debut in 2010 for the Mumbai Indians and remained with the side until 2022, having represented no other franchise. In 189 matches, he scored 3,412 runs while scalping 69 wickets. Aged 39, he is still with MI, serving as their primary batting coach.
