Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard for MI (Source:@MIFansArmy/X.com)
Kieron Pollard and Rohit Sharma have played a lot of cricket together for the Mumbai Indians and undoubtedly share a special bond. The long association means that both of them know a lot of things about each other, and now, in an interview on News24, Pollard shared his views on Rohit Sharma's future.
Rohit-Pollard First Encountered Each Other In U19 World Cup
The Caribbean superstar, while talking to News24 about Rohit Sharma's exploits as a batter and a leader, recalled that he even played against Rohit Sharma during his U19 days. Thus, it brings us back to the U19 World Cup 2006. It was a World Cup where a lot of future greats represented their country as teenagers, and Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard were among them.
India and West Indies went head-to-head in the all-important quarter-final of that World Cup. India batted first and posted a healthy total of 284. Cheteshwar Pujara was opening for India, and he scored a century while the other opener, Gaurav Dhiman, smashed 74 off 56 balls.
Rohit Sharma Shines; Kieron Pollard Fails
After the 110-run opening stand, Rohit Sharma walked out to bat at number 3. The immensely talented cricketer played some glorious shots and scored 50 off 57 balls. Kieron Pollard, on the other hand, was not trusted to bowl to his captain in that game as West Indies had quality bowlers like Kemar Roach and Sunil Narine in their ranks. Nevertheless, it was Javon Searles who picked up a six-fer that day, and Windies had a stiff yet chaseable target in front of them.
West Indies batters, though, falter against India's disciplined bowling, and only Andre Fletcher could put up a fight. The top-order collapsed, and a lot was expected from young Kieron Pollard, who had hit two consecutive fifties against Pakistan U19 before the World Cup. However, Pollard could score just one run as Yo Mahesh got the better of him, and India won that game by a massive margin of 126 runs.
Thus, the U19 encounter between Kieron Pollard and Rohit Sharma was not pleasant for the Trinidad lad. It was Rohit Sharma who scored a fifty, and India qualified for the semifinal. The battles followed at the international level between two stars in the next decade, but it was their chemistry and mojo while playing alongside each other for MI that would be remembered for the ages.
