Kieron Pollard joins MI Emirates as their wildcard signing for ILT20

Kieron Pollard has only ever played for MI Emirates in the ILT20, the association stretching back to the first season of the tournament, in early 2023

MI Emirates have announced Kieron Pollard as their wildcard signing for the upcoming season of the ILT20 in the UAE.

Pollard was unveiled as a wildcard alongside Nicholas Pooran last season as well, following the league's inaugural auction. He also took over as captain from Pooran, who was set to play for MI Cape Town in the SA20, with the two leagues overlapping in part. Pollard was MI Emirates' captain for the season.

MI Emirates came close to clinching the ILT20 last season but fell short in the final as Desert Vipers claimed their maiden title.

Pollard is the most capped player in T20 cricket, with 754 appearances, and is 63 runs away from surpassing Jos Buttler as the format's leading run-scorer. He has 14,999 runs at an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 150.92.

Pollard, who has turned out for MI Emirates in every season of the ILT20 since its inception in early 2023, has a long-standing association with the MI group, and was recently unveiled as the new head coach of Mumbai Indians, the IPL team.

He was also the head coach at MI London in the men's Hundred, but stepped down from that role in early November, not long after his new position with Mumbai Indians - where he had been a player from 2010 to 2022 and, after that, the batting coach - was made official. He has also stepped away from his playing deal with Joburg Super Kings in the SA20.

At MI Emirates, Pollard will work under former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher, the head coach. Boucher took over from former India allrounder Robin Singh, under whom MI Emirates won the ILT20 title in 2024.

The 2026-27 ILT20 season will take place from November 21 to December 20, in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.