Watch: Kieron Pollard and Steve Smith get into heated argument during MLC 2026 Eliminator

It was during the Eliminator of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 between the MI New York and the Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, where the two senior players of each side, Steve Smith and Kieron Pollard, were engaged in a heated argument, which went viral on social media platforms. 

It was an incredible game between the two sides where Freedom completed the 270-run chase with eight balls to spare and six wickets in hand, thanks to the twin centuries from Smith and Andries Gous, both of whom celebrated a 200+ run partnership for the third wicket.

The moment: Pollard and Smith clash on the field as tempers flare in Oakland

It was the last delivery of the 14th over of the innings when Pollard went with a change-up back-of-a-length delivery outside the off stump to Steve Smith, who played the pull shot off the inside half of his bat back to the medium pacer. 

Watch Kieron Pollard and Steve Smith's heated argument- 

The former West Indies captain collected the ball and had a go at the batter, who saw the throw go over his head to the wicket-keeper. The two exchanged some words, but Smith was smiling, and that irritated Pollard.

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It happened after the fifth ball of the over, on which Smith picked up the full delivery from outside the off-stump and lofted the ball over the deep extra cover for a massive six. He also started the over with a six that he smoked down the ground. 

The record chase: Smith and Gous' twin centuries power Freedom to historic 270-run chase

MI New York posted a massive score of 266 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 20 overs in the first innings, thanks to the superb 106-run knock of their captain, Nicholas Pooran, with five boundaries and 13 sixes. Meanwhile, Pollard dashed 64 runs off 25 balls with eight sixes and one boundary. 

It was always going to be an extraordinary chase for the Freedom side, who were restricted to 10/2 in 2.1 overs before Smith and Andries Gous put up a partnership of 241 runs for the third wicket.

See Also: Watch: Steve Smith's maiden MLC century powers Washington Freedom to highest successful run chase in T20 history

Along with Smith’s unbeaten 110-run knock, Gous drilled a superb knock of 132 runs off 51 balls at a strike rate of 258.82, with the help of 10 boundaries and 12 sixes as they went over the finishing line by six wickets with eight balls to spare.

Fans react: Cricket fans split over the Pollard-Smith heated exchange

Here is how the fans showed their views on the social media platforms regarding the heated exchange between Pollard and Smith-

Follow the live scorecard between MI New York and Washington Freedom in MLC 2026-

WF- 270/4 (Andries Gous 132, Steve Smith 110*, Shakib Al Hasan 2/34) beat MI NY 266/9 (Nicholas Pooran 106, Rachin Ravindra 4/29) by 6 wickets.