Having played with and against the two veterans who will once again command attention on Sunday night, Kieron Pollard sought to dial down the Rohit Sharma–Virat Kohli narrative ahead of Mumbai Indians’ marquee clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Wankhede Stadium.

Pollard, now Mumbai Indians’ batting coach, insisted that the contest was bigger than individual rivalries, even as he acknowledged the value of the two stalwarts.

“You say it’s a Rohit-Kohli show. I look at it as Mumbai Indians versus RCB. Let the individuals enjoy this phase of their careers. They are still performing, they are still doing well. And even if they are not, they deserve the right to decide certain things,” Pollard said on Saturday.

“I’m happy that there are experienced guys still around. You need them to guide the younger players coming through, who will be the superstars in the next 10 to 15 years.”

ALSO READ | Virat Kohli signs Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s cap, pens sweet message

With Rohit set to turn 39 later this month and Kohli just a year younger, Pollard also brushed aside concerns around age, pointing to examples of longevity in modern cricket.

“Imran Tahir is playing somewhere in the world at 46 or 47. MS Dhoni is still playing at 44. Fortunately, I’m still playing around the world at 39. Different things motivate individuals to continue playing,” he said.

“These guys have done well for cricket overall. We tend to focus on age and what they should or shouldn’t do. We should honour players who have put smiles on our faces over time and let them decide when it’s time.”

Published on Apr 11, 2026