MI Owner Nita Ambani Makes Big Move, Announces New Captain Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
MI owner Nita Ambani appoints Kieron Pollard as MI Emirates’ new captain ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Here’s why Nicholas Pooran was replaced and a full look at the revamped squad for ILT20 Season 4.
Kieron Pollard appointed as the new MI Emirates captain ahead of ILT20 Season 4, replacing Nicholas Pooran.
Sporting the latest leadership shuffle before the IPLM 2026 Players Auction, Nita Ambani has decided to pick the Emirates Captain for MI. The franchise confirmed to the press that former Mumbai Indians' stalwart Kieron Pollard would now lead the team in the forthcoming session of the ILT20.
Pollard Is the New Captain of MI Emirates
Kieron Pollard, the former West Indie all-rounder, has been appointed as the captain of MI UAE for the upcoming Fourth Edition of the International League T20 (ILT20). He has taken over from Nicholas Pooran, who was the captain of the team earlier on.
This decision of captaincy came right on time, with the upcoming season of ILT20 scheduled for 2nd December 2021 till 4th January 2022 with matches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah.
Nicholas Pooran’s Availability Concerns Prompt Change
With significant concerns surrounding Nicholas Pooran's availability for the tail-end of the tournament, a team source said, "One of the OT20 weeks will clash with South Africa's T20 league, where Nicholas may represent one of the sides, possibly MI Cape Town."
In such a long and exhaustive schedule, the conflict in schedule indicates that Pooran might have to skip critical tiebreaker matches, prompting the management to bring back a safe pair of hands to run the team for the time being.
Pollard: A True MI Legend
Kieron Pollard’s appointment marks a return to leadership for a player who has been central to the Mumbai Indians’ success for over a decade. Pollard has been part of multiple championship-winning squads, including:
- 5 IPL titles with Mumbai Indians
- 2 Champions League T20 titles
- 2 MLC championships (2023 and 2025) with MI New York
The franchise celebrated the announcement on social media, calling Pollard an “MI legend, MI leader, MI skipper.” They praised his explosive batting, tactical bowling, sharp fielding, and exceptional cricketing IQ—qualities they believe will drive MI Emirates toward a strong campaign.
MI Emirates Head Into Season With a Strong Squad
MI Emirates have built a competitive lineup for Season 4. Alongside Pollard, the squad includes star performers such as:
- Nicholas Pooran
- Andre Fletcher (the franchise’s costliest buy)
- Ackeem Auguste
- Romario Shepherd
The team has also strengthened its depth with new additions, including:
Muhammad Rohid, Jordan Thompson, Naveen-ul-Haq, Usman Khan, Arab Gul, Tajinder Dhillon, Zahoor Khan, and Shakib Al Hasan.
Fazalhaq Farooqi, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Muhammad Waseem, and Kamindu Mendis are key players retained.
With a combination of experienced match-winners and fresh talent, MI Emirates are set to compete in the ILT20 tournament season under Pollard's leadership.
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