<p>Having got an opportunity to bat early on after Mumbai Indians lost four quick wickets against Chennai Super Kings, the West Indies explosive batsman Kieron Pollard proved his mettle but he refuted claims of making a statement. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Time and again Mumbai Indians have faced criticism for not promoting Pollard higher than the N 6, which leaves the hard-hitting batsman with very little time to make an impact.<br /><br />But in MI’s Indian Premier League tie on Saturday night against CSK, the Caribbean T20 specialist showed what he could do if given the opportunity to plan and pace his innings. <br /><br />Asked the need of him to bat in the top order, Pollard said: “I can feel that some times. I do not know about the other players but I have a job to do as well as a player.<br /><br />“Management staff pick the team for situations. As a team player I have to back myself to the situations thrown at me. I take the opportunity as it comes. If you do not grab the chance you do not back yourself. It was just a matter of taking to the situation and taking the opportunity,” he said after MI beat CSK by nine runs.<br /> <br />After MI lost their top four batsmen, including Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, Pollard was at the crease as early as in the ninth over. He took the rare opportunity to prove his worth as a match-winner with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 57 off 38 balls. <br /><br />Even as other batsmen found it difficult to bat on the Chennai wicket, Pollard said it was a good track. <br /><br />“I made myself good to bat at that situation. The situation was demanding that I should stay on and bat, which I tried to do. To me the wicket was good and there was dew factor but it tended to slow down at times.<br /><br />“You have to bowl in right areas. Obviously, I had some work to do in finishing up the overs. To me it is a good wicket,” he explained. <br /><br />Pollard also took a sensational catch under pressure when CSK skipper MS Dhoni was almost running away with the match.<br /></p>
<p>Having got an opportunity to bat early on after Mumbai Indians lost four quick wickets against Chennai Super Kings, the West Indies explosive batsman Kieron Pollard proved his mettle but he refuted claims of making a statement. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Time and again Mumbai Indians have faced criticism for not promoting Pollard higher than the N 6, which leaves the hard-hitting batsman with very little time to make an impact.<br /><br />But in MI’s Indian Premier League tie on Saturday night against CSK, the Caribbean T20 specialist showed what he could do if given the opportunity to plan and pace his innings. <br /><br />Asked the need of him to bat in the top order, Pollard said: “I can feel that some times. I do not know about the other players but I have a job to do as well as a player.<br /><br />“Management staff pick the team for situations. As a team player I have to back myself to the situations thrown at me. I take the opportunity as it comes. If you do not grab the chance you do not back yourself. It was just a matter of taking to the situation and taking the opportunity,” he said after MI beat CSK by nine runs.<br /> <br />After MI lost their top four batsmen, including Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, Pollard was at the crease as early as in the ninth over. He took the rare opportunity to prove his worth as a match-winner with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 57 off 38 balls. <br /><br />Even as other batsmen found it difficult to bat on the Chennai wicket, Pollard said it was a good track. <br /><br />“I made myself good to bat at that situation. The situation was demanding that I should stay on and bat, which I tried to do. To me the wicket was good and there was dew factor but it tended to slow down at times.<br /><br />“You have to bowl in right areas. Obviously, I had some work to do in finishing up the overs. To me it is a good wicket,” he explained. <br /><br />Pollard also took a sensational catch under pressure when CSK skipper MS Dhoni was almost running away with the match.<br /></p>