Kieron Pollard Sets New T20 Record, Surpassing Chris Gayle
Pollard Achieves Historic Milestone
On Sunday, Kieron Pollard, the iconic all-rounder from the West Indies, reached a significant milestone in T20 cricket during the Major League Cricket 2026. By scoring 81 runs, he overtook Chris Gayle, famously known as the Universe Boss, to become the leading run-scorer in T20 history. The 39-year-old, who also holds the position of batting coach for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, raised his total runs to 14,582 across 736 matches, boasting an average of 31.83 and a strike rate of 151.12. This achievement came after he scored an impressive 100 not out off 56 balls for MI New York, despite the team's loss against Washington Freedom. Pollard's accomplishment marks the end of Gayle's 12-year dominance in the shortest format of the game.
Pollard's Respect for Gayle
Kieron Pollard Apologises To Gayle
Pollard expressed his pride in surpassing Gayle, acknowledging the latter's significant contributions to West Indies cricket. "Surpassing Chris Gayle, someone we looked up to in the West Indies over a period of time, is special. He has done great things in all formats of cricket, so again, sorry Universe Boss, but we are both at the top there,” Pollard remarked after the match. He emphasized the challenges of batting lower in the order, stating, "Having said that, batting at No. 6 or 7 is very difficult. Somebody needs to do the dirty work, though, and while everyone rushes to bat at the top of the order, a cricket match involves 11 people, and everyone has a role to play. I guess my role over time was to finish matches, and I embraced that. Once you embrace the challenge and practice for it, good things come," he added.
Pollard Reflects on Franchise Cricket
Pollard On Prioritising Franchise League
Pollard, along with Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, faced criticism for prioritizing franchise cricket over international commitments. He acknowledges that they were pioneers in this mindset. Reflecting on his choices, Pollard stated, "Hell, no, I'd be lying if I said that [if he ever imagined achieving the ‘most runs’ feat]. But what I'm proud of, individually and with all those other guys you mentioned like Chris, is that we took a leap of faith and we got ridiculed a lot for it. Now you live to see guys at a young age, even retiring from international cricket to play franchise cricket because again cricket is not just a sport anymore; it's a business.” He added, "One thing I've understood in life about human beings is that when you do something different, change is something we're not really accustomed to. I'm happy that I've lived the day to see it, and I hope everyone who criticised us over the years can sit back and say, 'Cheers'. We don't need a sorry. Respect each and every format of the game, but understand that just like technology, everything is changing."