‘Sorry, Universe Boss’. Kieron Pollard’s message after breaking Chris Gayle’s T20 record Cricket News:
Kieron Pollard added another remarkable chapter to his T20 legacy on Sunday, excelling Chris Gayle: to become the leading run-scorer in the history of the format during Major League Cricket 2026.A remarkable moment came when the former West Indies all-rounder reached 81 during MI New York’s match against Washington Freedom. Pollard eventually remained unbeaten on 100 from 56 deliveries, although his century was lost in the cause. The knock took his career T20 tally to 14,582 runs from 736 matches, scoring at an average of 31.83 and a strike rate of 151.12.In doing so, the 39-year-old surpassed fellow West Indian great Chris Gayle, ending the “Universe Boss’s” 12-year stay at the top of the all-time T20 run chart.For Pollard, the achievement had more significance as most of the runs came while batting in the middle and lower order rather than as a top-order batter.“To surpass Chris Gayle, someone we’ve looked up to in the West Indies for a period of time, is special. He’s done great things in all forms of cricket, so again, sorry Universe Boss, but we’re both up there,” Pollard said after the match.“That being said, batting at No. 6 or 7 is very difficult. Someone has to do the dirty work, though, and while everyone is rushing to bat at the top of the order, a cricket game includes 11 people, and everyone has a role to play. I think my role over time is to finish the matches, and I accept that. Once you accept the challenge and practice it,” he added.Pollard’s rise to the pinnacle of T20 cricket also serves as a reminder of a generation of West Indian cricketers who embraced franchise cricket before it was widely accepted. With players like Gayle and: Dwayne BravoPollard has often faced criticism for prioritizing the franchise’s leagues, with many believing it comes at the expense of international commitments.In retrospect, however, Pollard has no regrets about the path he chose and believes that time vindicates the decisions made by his generation.“Hell, no, I’d be lying if I said that [if he ever imagined achieving the ‘most runs’ feat]. But what I’m proud of, individually and all the other guys you mentioned like Chris, is that we took a leap of faith and we’ve been mocked a lot for it. Now you live to see men at a young age, even retire from international cricket to play franchise cricket because cricket is no longer a game; it’s a business,” he said.“One thing I understand in life about people is that if you do something different, change is something that we are not used to. I am happy that I lived the day to see it, and I hope that everyone who criticized us for many years can sit down and say, ‘Cheers’. We do not need to apologize.
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