MI not out yet, insists Pollard despite mounting losses

Mumbai Indians have refused to concede the season. Even after six reversals in eight games, Kieron Pollard said he has taken a position of being only down, not out.

"We have not accepted defeat, but we have accepted that we have been on the losing side more often than not so far in this tournament," Pollard said after MI were handed a six-wicket mauling by the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede on Wednesday night.

"We need to play a complete game of cricket to win matches, because it's getting difficult the way the game is going. But what I can safely say is that, in the dressing room, the spirit of the guys is strong – they are willing and wanting to fight."

"At the end of the day, we're still playing a game of cricket, and there are a lot of other things more serious in life as well. Two teams play – you win some, you lose some – and we have been on the losing side," the MI batting coach said.

MI are languishing at ninth place on the points table with just two wins in eight games but Pollard said they have a mathematical chance in the league.

"When I said 'defeat', I didn't want the headlines to suggest that Mumbai Indians are out of the tournament, because mathematically and from a points perspective, we are still very much in it. We will go back, assess what we can do, and see how far we can go in the tournament."

On Wednesday night, MI suffered their fourth loss at the Wankhede, their supposed fortress. In the match, over 480 runs were scored with MI failing to defend 243 but Pollard refused to blame the pitch.

"I think I'm the wrong person to answer that question… We've all played here for years. We've done well here for years. Two teams take the field every time. So, you just have to be better – and so far, the opposition have been better than us."

Pollard conceded that MI have not had a complete match so far this season, including Wednesday's match against the Sunrisers.

"In terms of what has gone wrong, I think we haven't been able to string together a complete game of cricket as a team. It hasn't been as consistent as we would have hoped, and the results are showing that. Collectively, I think we haven't been good enough."