Kieron Pollard Tapes Mouth in IPL 2015 Protest During Mumbai vs Bangalore Match

During an electrifying IPL 2015 clash at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard stunned fans with a bizarre protest. Fielding against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pollard taped his mouth after umpires warned him against sledging Chris Gayle. This iconic moment remains one of cricket’s most memorable antics.

Mumbai Indians posted a formidable 209/7, powered by Lendl Simmons’ 59 and Unmukt Chand’s 58. Royal Challengers Bangalore faced a daunting 210-run chase, with Chris Gayle opening alongside Manvinder Bisla. From the first over, Pollard targeted Gayle with verbal jabs, aiming to disrupt his rhythm.

Umpires Richard Illingworth and Vineet Kulkarni quickly intervened, urging Pollard to stop. Unhappy with their directive, Pollard marched to the dugout, returning with adhesive tape plastered across his mouth. Spectators, commentators, and Mumbai’s coaching staff, including Ricky Ponting, erupted in laughter.

Pollard’s taped-mouth gesture symbolized his defiance, only removing the tape briefly to communicate with teammates. He maintained this silent protest until bowling the final over.

“The umpire told him to stay quiet, so he wanted to make sure to put tape on his mouth. He’s a character. IPL brings the best flavors of West Indies boys,” said teammate Harbhajan Singh, who earned Player of the Match honors.

Pollard’s tactics appeared effective. Gayle struggled, and Royal Challengers Bangalore fell 18 runs short. Mumbai Indians clinched victory, with Pollard’s protest stealing headlines. On Twitter, Pollard clarified, “No spat, please don’t look for a story media. I’m here to enjoy cricket and give 100% for Mumbai Indians.”

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While fans found humor in Pollard’s antics, opinions split. Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar later argued Pollard deserved a one-match ban for undermining umpire authority. Regardless, this moment cemented Pollard’s reputation as IPL’s ultimate entertainer.