- Kieron Pollard informs Joburg Super Kings of his unavailability for SA20 2027 The Trinidadian cricketer has communicated his inability to play for the Johannesburg-based franchise in the upcoming South African league season.
- (Photo Source: Mumbai Indians) Kieron Pollard has informed the Joburg Super Kings management that he will not be available for the 2027 SA20 season.
- The Trinidadian cricketer announced his move shortly after he was officially pointed as the head coach of Mumbai Indians.
Kieron Pollard informs Joburg Super Kings of his unavailability for SA20 2027 The Trinidadian cricketer has communicated his inability to play for the Johannesburg-based franchise in the upcoming South African league season.
(Photo Source: Mumbai Indians) Kieron Pollard has informed the Joburg Super Kings management that he will not be available for the 2027 SA20 season. The Trinidadian cricketer announced his move shortly after he was officially pointed as the head coach of Mumbai Indians. The Joburg Super Kings are a South African subsidiary of the Chennai Super Kings, which created a situation where Pollard’s unavailability could have led to complications within the interconnected ownership structure.
Interestingly, MI Ce Town, the franchise of Mumbai Indians in the ILT20, had decided not to bid for Pollard in the SA20 auction. Kasi Viswanathan, General Manager of Chennai Super Kings and all Super Kings franchises, confirmed the development. He said Pollard has expressed his inability to participate in the upcoming season and the franchise will now look for a replacement player for the Jan. 17-Feb. 21 season.
“He let us know that he cannot play for the Joburg Super Kings. We will now look for a replacement,” confirmed Kasi Viswanathan, CEO of CSK and all Super Kings franchises, according to Cricbuzz. MI management made it clear that no pressure was put on Pollard over his decision.
“It’s up to KP on the matter. We have given no instructions,” an MI source told before the news of Pollard communication emerged. Why did Pollard retire from the Joburg Super Kings?
Pollard’s unavailability is particularly notable given that Joburg Super Kings had purchased him for R1.5 million at the SA20 auction held in early October. At the same auction, MI Ce Town acquired Shimron Hetmyer for the same amount instead of pursuing Pollard. The franchise explained the reasoning behind the choice, noting that both players fill similar middle-order roles and that auction dynamics influenced the decision.
“It all depended on the order of the auction. Hetmyer and KP play the same role in the middle order. Hetmyer’s name came up first and we couldn’t have waited for Pollard.
What was the guarantee that no other team would compete with us and that we would get him at auction?” an MI source explained, referring to the franchise’s decision not to bid for Pollard at the SA20 auction. Pollard’s career in franchises owned by Mumbai Indians spans multiple global leagues. From 2024 to 2026, he played 12 games for MI Ce Town, 30 games for MI New York and 25 games for MI Emirates in the ILT20.
Beyond MI’s own teams, Pollard continues to play for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, a competition in which Mumbai Indians are not represented. He also serves as head coach of MI London in The Hundred. Pollard’s long association with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League remains significant to his career.
He joined the franchise in 2010 and played for 13 seasons until 2022, being a part of Mumbai Indians’ five IPL title wins.
