Kieron Pollard has officially withdrawn from the Joburg Super Kings (JSK) for the 2027 SA20 season. His decision follows his promotion to head coach of Mumbai Indians (MI) for the IPL 2027 season.
Pollard was signed by JSK for R1.5 million during the SA20 auction earlier this month. Ironically, his former team MI Cape Town let him go into the auction pool to sign Shimron Hetmyer instead.
Playing for JSK—a franchise owned by Chennai Super Kings (CSK)—while simultaneously heading the MI coaching staff would have created a massive branding clash. The historic CSK versus MI rivalry makes cross-franchise loyalty particularly complex for a global franchise icon like Pollard.
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the communication from Pollard and stated that the franchise has already begun looking for a replacement player ahead of the season opener on 17 January 2027.
“He has conveyed to us that he will not be able to play for Joburg Super Kings,” Viswanathan quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. “We will now look for a replacement.”
Meanwhile, an MI source clarified that the franchise did not order or instruct Pollard’s withdrawal, emphasizing that the decision was entirely his own choice.
"It's up to KP on the matter. We have given no instructions," the source told Cricbuzz before Pollard let his unavailability known to JSK.
Kieron Pollard’s appointment as MI head coach follows the departure of Mahela Jayawardene. The former West Indies all-rounder also served the franchise as batting coach for the last four seasons.
Pollard has a 16-year association with MI, having originally joined the team as a 22-year-old player in 2010 and winning five IPL titles with them.
After his appointment, Pollard expressed gratitude to the co-owners Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani, and also the MI family for their trust. He highlighted his strong bond with the franchise and said he looked forward to building on its legacy, nurturing talent and giving fans more reasons to celebrate.
“It is a honour to take on the role of Head Coach of Mumbai Indians. MI has been a huge part of my life and career, and the bond I share with this team, the players and the Paltan means a great deal to me. Having experienced this journey as a player and then as a coach, I understand what Mumbai Indians stands for and the responsibility that comes with representing the Blue and Gold. I am grateful to Mrs. Nita Ambani, Akash Ambani and the entire MI family for their trust in me. I look forward to working closely with the players and support staff, building on the team’s legacy, helping our talent grow and giving the Paltan many more reasons to celebrate,” Pollard said in a statement.
