‘Don’t call me coach, call me Polly’: Batting coach Kieron Pollard’s advice to Mumbai Indians’ players

Kieron Pollard will start his new innings as a batting coach with Mumbai Indians in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 has one piece of advice for his players and that is to not call him “coach.”
“I have told them don’t call me coach, call me Polly,” Pollard said on Mumbai Indians YouTube channel.
Pollard has won the Champions League in 2011 and 2013 and the IPL in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 with Mumbai Indians.

“Words really can’t describe the feeling of playing for Mumbai Indians and representing the people of Mumbai. They have done a lot for me as an individual and I guess I have done a lot for them from a player’s perspective, the bond we have I guess it’s more than just cricket matches and things like that. For me nothing will change, I’ll be the same sort of personality and character, around the guys,” said Pollard.
Speaking about Pollard’s transition from a player to coach, Tilak Verma said: “Last year I was sharing dressing room with him and this year I am very excited, like he is now our batting coach.”
Punjab all-rounder Ramandeep Singh, who has been tipped as someone to replace Kieron Pollard in the Mumbai Indians playing XI calls the West Indian his “big brother.”
“Whenever I was in trouble he was always there to guide me and he would like a big brother come to me with ideas that you can go with this plan,” said Ramandeep.
In the video, Hrithik Shokeen said he is going to tease Pollard calling him the coach.
“I used to bowl to him a lot during the nets, I was really missing him, I am going to tease him a little and call him ‘Coach’ sometimes,” he said.
South Africa’s Dewald Brewis, who is in his second season with Mumbai Indians, said “Whenever I was in trouble he was always there to guide me and he would like a big brother come to me with ideas that you can go with this plan.”
Mumbai Indians will start their IPL campgain against Royal Challengers Bangalore April 2.