Kieron Pollard will bid farewell to his role as head coach of MI London in the Hundred’s next season, stepping down to take a breather after his recent appointment at Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pollard guided MI London to a respectable fourth-place finish in the 2026 edition, narrowly missing out on a play-off spot.
Under Pollard’s leadership, MI London, captained by Sam Curran, equalled the points tally of Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds but fell short due to a lower net run rate. Pollard, who has been a significant figure at MI, stepping in as head coach following Mahela Jayawardene’s departure in October, is making this change to prioritise some personal time off.
Last season, MI London’s women’s team faced a tough run, securing only a single victory from eight matches. There’s speculation regarding Lisa Keightley’s potential return as head coach for the women’s side, having left the MI role in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Pollard’s exit leaves two prominent vacancies at The Oval. Gareth Batty, previously part of Pollard’s coaching team, has moved on from his head coach role at Surrey to join Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as an assistant. With Surrey and Reliance Industries Limited co-owning MI London, the search for Pollard’s successor is now underway.
Surrey anticipates appointing a new head coach by year-end, allowing them to maintain dual responsibilities within the Hundred and the county circuit. Prospective candidates could include the former assistant coach Azhar Mahmood and bowling coach Jade Dernbach.
Meanwhile, the player retention process for the Hundred is ongoing until January, with teams permitted to retain up to 16 players from their 2026 roster. Notably, a fifth overseas player can now be signed, though match day selections remain limited to four.
In related news, Birmingham Phoenix are similarly searching for a fresh face to lead their men’s team, following Shane Bond’s recent departure. Jonathan Trott’s name surfaces as a strong candidate, with interview stages commencing shortly.
