Mumbai Indians (MI) all-rounder Kieron Pollard said it is “irrelevant” to think about the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 while playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021).
Pollard’s comments came after Mumbai Indians (MI) thrashed Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 wickets on Tuesday (September 28) to bounce back in the ongoing IPL 2021 in the UAE.
The West Indian further insisted that his immediate focus is on the IPL 14 to do well for the MI and one must focus on the present and that’s how players go about their business, referring to the upcoming T20 World Cup 2021, starting on October 17 in the UAE, two days after the IPL final on October 15.
Pollard said at the post-match press conference, “To be honest, (T20) World Cup is irrelevant at this point of time; we are playing the IPL tournament. When you are in a tournament as an individual, you look to think about the present and not look too far ahead.”
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He added, “It is a matter of giving all the guys confidence and finding the best solutions. These are guys that have done the job for us. People on the outside do not understand what cricketers go through. Why think about the T20 World Cup when we are playing the IPL? Let's deal with the present.”
The all-rounder, who scalped 2 wickets and scored 15* off 7 balls against PBKS, also stressed that it is important to adapt to situations when you are playing in the UAE.
Pollard further explained, “Everyone is going on about the pitches, but you cannot get what you want all the time. As a professional athlete, you need to adapt. For me personally, it is about staying in the present and dealing with what is in front of us as a team.”
He signed off by saying on MI’s win over PBKS, “What we have is belief in one another and we believe we can get out of any situation. So, I think the biggest thing for us is belief, and we have put ourselves in this situation and the players and the management is sticking together.”
Noteworthy, the MI will next take on Delhi Capitals on Saturday, October 2, in the ongoing IPL 14.
(With ANI Inputs)
