No more red, yellow: MI coach Kieron Pollard wants fan passion to return to Wankhede

Kieron Pollard has sent a clear message to MI fans after becoming the new coach of Mumbai Indians. He doesn’t want to see any RCB or CSK jersey inside the Wankhede Stadium during IPL matches.

Over the past few years, the Wankhede, which has been a stronghold for MI, has seen fans rooting for their opponents. Loud chants of RCB and cheers for Dhoni rang through the stadium during matches in the last few years where MI struggled to make an impact.

We’re talking on MI’s YouTube channel after taking up the position of coachPollard said he wants to bring energy and spirit back to the side and that will start by restoring the passion in the fans and seeing more blue in the stadium.

“My first job is to bring energy and spirit. When you walk into the Wankhede Stadium, you don’t see yellow and red and stuff,” he said in an interview on MI’s YouTube channel. “You want to see the blue flag flying and you want to see the passion and the spirit of the fans.

Pollard acknowledged that bringing passion will start with the team delivering results to restore the fans’ confidence.

“And that can only come from us. So that’s kind of where our work starts – in terms of understanding what we’re playing for and who we’re playing for. We’re realizing the fact that we haven’t been where we wanted to be the last couple of years.”

“So there’s no hiding from it,” he said. “But now we’re going to do everything we can to make sure we continue to play for that badge, the team above ourselves, and then make sure that when the opposition come, it’s something they remember from the past. Yes, it’s history, but sometimes to move forward, you have to go back a little bit and understand. I think that’s where it starts.”

Pollard takes over from Mahela Jayawardene as MI’s new coach as he looks to restore them back to their glory days. Mumbai last finished 9th in the points table and missed out on the playoffs.

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