IPL 2017: Kieron Pollard’s short-run during Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) a deliberate act?

Match 51 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 saw 453 runs being scored in 40 overs at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Kieron Pollard remained unbeaten on 50 © BCCI

Match 51 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 saw 453 runs being scored in 40 overs at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Put in to bat first, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) set a target of 231 for Mumbai Indians (MI). The hosts slumped in the middle stages, but put up a tough fight with Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya on the crease. However, when Hardik and Karn Sharma were dismissed, the pressure built on Pollard. The final over was bowled by Mohit Sharma. MI needed 16 off 6. Pollard managed to do the unthinkable that caused uproar on social media. A short-run that went unnoticed initially was caught by the umpire and commentators during the final over. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD, Delhi Daredevils vs Rising Pune Supergiant – Match 52

https://t.co/6TXrfo5Nkd #VIVOIPL via @ipl

— Cricket-atti (@cricketatti) May 11, 2017

Pollard smashed the first ball but could not find the right connection, as it was cut by Glenn Maxwell at the boundary. With new batsman Harbhajan Singh at the non-strikers end, MI wanted Pollard to take as much strike as possible. The Trinidadian turned and while trudging back for the second, touched the pitch way ahead of the popping crease. Maxwell’s throw was wide and Pollard made it on time. Many claimed that it was a deliberate tactic to retain the strike while some felt it might have been unintentional. The cricket laws allow the batsman to keep the strike in such cases, while the second run does not count.

The on-field umpires Abhishek Deshmukh and Nand Kishore thought it was a mistake and hence allowed Pollard to keep the strike as per the laws, not allowing the second run, as reported on cricket.com.au. Had they considered it deliberate, neither run would have counted and Pollard would have been warned. A second deliberate short-run would have handed five penalty runs to the opposition.

However, the Twitterati and cricket pundits did not feel the same, as they believed it was intentional on Pollard’s part to take short run and keep the strike:

@KieronPollard55 #IPL #MIvKXIP #KieronPollard pic.twitter.com/SeDsKWYN11

— Saikrishna Chintu (@dsk944) May 11, 2017

#KieronPollard deliberately running one short to keep strike…It’s not oversight… It’s simple cheating. #mivskxip

— Arjuun (@arjuunsraman) May 11, 2017