Mumbai Indians announced Kieron Pollard as its new head coach for the IPL 2027 season on Saturday. Pollard, whose association with the franchise runs back to 2010, will take over from Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene.

Speaking about his role and expectations for next year, Pollard said his immediate focus was to bring a team-first mindset to help MI become a title-contending team again.

“I think my first task is about understanding what’s needed to be done. Again, and then when you get into that, bring that spirit and that energy. Talk about that. When you walk into the Wankhede Stadium, you are not seeing the yellows and the reds and stuff like that. You want to see that blue flag flying, and you want to see that passion and spirit from the fans. And that can only come from within us,” Pollard said.

“We recognize the fact that we have not been where we wanted to be in the last couple of years. So there’s no hiding, sort of from that.

“But what’s going to happen is that we’re going to try our best now to ensure that we continue to play for that badge, put the team above self, and then ensure that when the opposition comes, it’s something that they remembered from the past. Yes, it’s history, but sometimes in order to go forward, you have to go back a little bit and understand. And I think that’s where it’s going to start,” the West Indian added.

Mumbai Indians, the joint-most successful team in the IPL with five titles, has looked a pale shadow of its former self in recent IPL seasons.. The team failed to qualify for the Playoffs in two out of the last three seasons, and has not won the title since 2020.

Pollard also said his players would have complete freedom to express themselves, a personality trait that came to define the West Indian during his playing career.

“I think that’s very very important, and that’s something that has been leaving the game, and not true. Sometimes a lot of the guys wanted to show their personality and be free, but through the rules and regulations of the demerit points and all of these things, I think at times we have gotten a bit robotic in that sense.

“So, guys don’t actually sometimes try to show their true personality, and I think that is what is missing a little bit. So for us, as a Mumbai Indians team, I think it’s very important that we show personalities because each and every individual in our dressing room has something that people would not have seen that has gotten them to where they have got at the stage, and that is where you need bring it out,” Pollard added.

Pollard also spoke highly of Jayawardene, stating the Sri Lankan’s technical acumen has strongly influenced his understanding of the game.

“What stood out for me immediately from then was how precise he was from a tactical perspective in that in that sense.”

“Having to experience him as a coach playing under him, I think was even more fantastic for me. And then following that, being under him as an assistant, as well as a batting coach, the knowledge that I would have gained over that period of time, from someone like him, I have to say I’m blessed, to be able to be in that position, to be able to receive all that he had to bring from different perspective from opponent into the coaching setup,” Pollard said.

On how he would approach the head coach job, Pollard said it would involve player management and data driven decision-making.

“It comes down to the players. It comes down to conversations, one-on-one conversations. Yes, it comes down to the team talks and the team tactics. Also, with how much cricket has changed lately, data also becomes an important aspect, it helps with preparation.”