The Pollard-Henriques contest

Kieron Pollard and Moises Henriques have emerged as prime allrounders for their respective teams - Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad - in IPL 2015. The match on Sunday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket stadium in Uppal, is likely to be the most crucial game of the season for the two teams, but it will also be a return to a mini-battle between the two allrounders.

Both were born in the same year on different continents and their paths crossed for the first time at the same venue in October 2009. The cricketing world took notice of a new KP in world cricket, while the game would prove to be a turning point for Henriques.

Pollard's 18-ball 54 against a formidable New South Wales helped Trinidad & Tobago chase down 171 from a position of 77 for 4, and the bowler who suffered the most during Pollard's onslaught was Henriques - Pollard smashed 42 off nine deliveries bowled by Henriques, including 27 in an over. The innings made him an overnight sensation and made T20 teams all over the world take notice. Three months later, he was the most expensive signing in the 2010 IPL auction and has since emerged as one of the marquee players for Mumbai Indians and one of the most sought-after T20 freelancers in the game.

Henriques has followed a different trajectory. He did feature in an ODI for Australia a fortnight after being clobbered by Pollard, but has since then emerged primarily as a batting allrounder. Henriques has been a revelation for Sunrisers in IPL 2015 and his consistent performances, especially with the bat at No. 3, have allowed Sunrisers to resurrect themselves in the latter half of the tournament. He has also come up with valuable bowling spells in their last two games.

Pollard is Mumbai's trusted finisher with the bat but earlier this week, he also displayed his bowling skills by comfortably defending 12 runs off the last over against reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders.

It won't be the first time since that night in 2009 that the duo will be up against each other. Since then, they have faced each other seven times in T20 cricket and in one game, Pollard meted out the same treatment to Henriques. In a Big Bash League game in January 2011 Pollard blasted three sixes and a four in an Henriques over to turn the game for South Australia.

Even last year, both allrounders were on opposite sides during a league game, but neither player had much impact. Come Sunday, the duel between the two could end up being the decisive factor in deciding the fourth team to qualify for the IPL 2015 playoffs.