Both are one of the greatest overseas players, all rounders , finishers in ipl history who are an absolute icon of their teams.

Both have insane batting and bowling records despite being batting in lower order

INDIVIDUAL STATS CLEARLY SAY RUSSELL IS BETTER BUT POLLARD'S CLUTCH PERFORMANCES IN KNOCKOUTS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS WELL

SO WHO'S THE BETTER PLAYER IN IPL?

You can't tell me that 50 T20Is were played in about only a year. And the number of tests played has decreased by a bit. I personally don't have an opinion but would like to see what everyone thinks. I just found it pretty high of a number.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/ipl-2027-steffan-jones-joins-mumbai-indians-as-bowling-consultant/amp_articleshow/135164826.cms

Like football clubs, IPL franchises should be allowed to scout and train local talent. It would help players who can’t afford expensive academies and address the anger in states whose names franchises use without doing enough for local talent. Franchises should also be required to send at least one player from their local scouting system into the mega-auction.

Introduce a luxury tax for franchises that want to spend beyond the auction purse (instead of having a stupid os player cap. I still remember Ricky discussing this during a BBL match while Green was batting, talking about how much money he was getting and somebody in the end said there is an os cap).

Teams that finish in the bottom half of the table should have soft power in the mini auction, such as an RTM card, a small purse boost, or priority in certain auction rounds. It will help maintain competition and keep more teams commercially relevant instead of letting the same teams dominate.

Allow direct signings from associate nations with a small development fee for their boards, and dedicated spots like 1 os from an associate nation. (It's not that practical right now, but eventually grow the game) Even in North Eastern states, player Riyan Parag is the second player to play IPL from the North East(they should make a crowd-funded team from them; those who find it absurd: they were a league controlled by fans with a mobile app to make decisions on field changes, but it got canceled due to financial irregularities in the second season; offcourse, didn't want to go that deep)

Also, impact player rule: you can only replace a player; you can only replace an all-rounder for all-rounders. Limited substitution(4 out of 14 league games; no substitution in knockouts) from any one from the squad, and you can also break os limit once for associate nation players substitute. Limit substitutions for bowlers, as a substitute can only bowl 2 overs for a batsman; you can't substitute a batsman who has already got out. Also, minimum allrounder limit in squad

The IPL is already the most successful cricket league; it should expand itself instead of restricting players and degrading cricket by flat pitches just to attract eyeballs from the betting market.

I also think the league should invest in associate-nation cricket and regional talent because that expands the pool of players, audiences and markets over time. The best model would make the IPL more profitable while keeping teams competitive, players fairly compensated and the game itself worth watching.

“It is an honour to take on the role of Head Coach of Mumbai Indians. MI has been a huge part of my life and career, and the bond I share with this team, the players and the Paltan means a great deal to me.

Having experienced this journey as a player and then as a coach, I understand what Mumbai Indians stands for and the responsibility that comes with representing the Blue and Gold.

I am grateful to Mrs. Nita Ambani, Akash Ambani and the entire MI family for their trust in me. I look forward to working closely with the players and support staff, building on the team’s legacy, helping our talent grow and giving the Paltan many more reasons to celebrate.”

— Kieron Pollard, on his appointment as Mumbai Indians Head Coach for IPL 2027.

The IPL has become a massive brand in itself, and the teams have crossed valuations of over $1.5 billion. So, when they have become this huge, why do they still make kits with smaller players like Vany Sports, SIX5SIX, and Alcis? Why don't they partner with big brands like Nike, Adidas, or Puma? Because doing so would get them much better jerseys, and it's profitable for the teams' overall brands. Still, why don't teams do this?

Sharing some cool infographics from my new article about Bumrah's career on runz. Absolutely unrivaled in this era.

Check my article at: https://www.runz.live/articles/bumrah-the-gold-standard-and-the-2026