Kieron Pollard has informed Joburg Super Kings of his unavailability for the upcoming SA20 season after a major coaching appointment.

The franchise had signed the former West Indies all-rounder for R1.5 million at the auction earlier this month.

Kieron Pollard’s future in franchise cricket has taken an unexpected turn ahead of the upcoming SA20 season. The former West Indies all-rounder was recently picked up by Joburg Super Kings (JSK), but his availability for the tournament has now changed following a significant development in his coaching career. The decision has also drawn attention because of the connections between the franchise groups involved.

Pollard’s withdrawal comes at a time when his responsibilities within the Mumbai Indians (MI) setup are expanding. Having spent years representing the franchise as a player and later working with the team as a batting coach, he is set to take on a bigger leadership role. His latest decision also means JSK must revise their plans ahead of the new season.

Pollard communicates his decision to Joburg Super Kings

Pollard informed JSK that he would not be available for the upcoming SA20 season. The Johannesburg-based franchise, which belongs to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) group, had bought him for R1.5 million at the auction earlier this month. Mumbai Indians’ owners also operate MI Cape Town, another team in the competition.

CSK chief executive Kasi Viswanathan confirmed the development, saying, “He has conveyed to us that he will not be able to play for Joburg Super Kings. We will now look for a replacement.”

Mumbai Indians had reportedly not instructed Pollard to withdraw from playing for another franchise. MI Cape Town had opted not to bid for Pollard at the auction, instead signing Shimron Hetmyer for the same amount.

That MI source told Cricbuzz before Pollard communicated his decision: “It’s up to KP on the matter. We have given no instructions. Both Hetmyer and KP perform the same role in the middle order.”

A new responsibility with Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians appointed Pollard as their head coach for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027, replacing Mahela Jayawardene. Pollard had served as the franchise’s batting coach after retiring as an IPL player following the 2022 season. He joined MI in 2010 and featured across 13 IPL seasons, becoming part of all five of the franchise’s title-winning campaigns. His long association with the team and experience across global T20 leagues were important factors behind his promotion.

MI co-owner Nita Ambani welcomed his appointment, saying, “Pollard joined Mumbai Indians as a young 22-year-old and, over the past sixteen years, has become an integral part of our family.”

The fifth season of the SA20 is scheduled to take place from January 17 to February 21, 2027. JSK will now need to find a replacement for Pollard before the tournament begins.