On a night that promised Rahul’s glory, it was Pollard’s power-hitting that turned the script upside down—sealing a last-ball heist in Mumbai’s backyard
The Wankhede Stadium shimmered under the floodlights on a warm April evening in 2019 as the Kings XI Punjab arrived with one mission: to silence the home crowd. They lost the toss but were put into bat—something KL Rahul didn’t seem to mind one bit. What followed was a spectacle of poise, placement, and eventually power as Rahul quietly put his head down and let the bat do the talking.
Partnering with the ever-explosive Chris Gayle, the duo tiptoed through the powerplay before throwing caution to the wind. Gayle flicked the switch first, creaming Jason Behrendorff for 3 sixes and a four in a single over. The Jamaican’s intent was loud and clear—he wasn’t here to nudge singles.
Credit: ESPN
KL Rahul, meanwhile, took his time. He played the anchor role to perfection, soaking up the pressure while Gayle swung from the hip. After the Universe Boss departed in the 13th over, Rahul took it upon himself to shift gears. And did he ever!
Credit: ESPN
From 50 off 41 balls, he accelerated into top gear. The 19th over bowled by Hardik Pandya was an all-out assault—3 sixes and a four, with Rahul flexing every muscle of his calm demeanour. He brought up his maiden IPL hundred in just 63 balls, laced with 6 sixes and 6 fours, and remained unbeaten as KXIP posted a daunting 197/4.
It was a total that appeared golden. But Mumbai, as it turned out, had one more card up their sleeve.
With Rohit Sharma sidelined due to a muscle spasm, Mumbai needed someone to step up. Enter Kieron Pollard. The West Indian arrived at 3 for 62 in the ninth over, and from that point, chaos reigned.
Pollard’s innings wasn’t based on finesse—it was all about fire and fury. He smashed 10 sixes and 3 boundaries in a stunning 83 off 31 balls, sending Sam Curran and Ankit Rajpoot to every corner of the stadium.
Credit: ESPN
At one point, MI required 54 off the last 4 overs. But Pollard threw himself into the moment, not one to shy away from a challenge. The 19th over brought 17 runs, and the final over began with 15 needed. Even after Pollard fell to Rajpoot with four balls remaining, Alzarri Joseph and Rahul Chahar kept their composure to scramble home off the last ball.
— Rahul’s 100* (64) was his first-ever IPL century and the only one in IPL 2019 against the Mumbai Indians
— Chris Gayle’s 63 off 36 balls, featuring seven sixes, marked his 29th IPL fifty
— The pair constructed a 116-run opening partnership off 77 balls
— Pollard’s 83 off 31 balls remains one of the fastest fifties of that season, achieved in 22 balls.
— MI’s 198/7 chased down the 198-run target on the final delivery, securing a three-wicket win.
Credit: ESPN
There are nights when cricket humbles its finest performers. KL Rahul’s unbeaten ton should have been the headline act. But cricket, in all its dramatic charm, chose differently. On a night where the class met carnage, Pollard’s blistering brilliance overshadowed Rahul’s elegance.
That’s the Wankhede for you. Loud, unpredictable, and always full of surprises.
