With their designated icon Sachin Tendulkar not fit to take the field at first, and now not quite leading by example, Pollock has been silently inspiring this side. The loose-limbed easy-going South African, who lost his captaincy after the famous D/L miscalculation during the 2003 World Cup, was outstanding as stand-in skipper in Tendulkar’s absence and is heading a disciplined bowling department. While the more animated Shane Warne is receiving accolades as IPL’s No. 1 man-manager, Pollock has once again been the unsung achiever. As he did all through his career, the man with an exceptionally high cricketing IQ has relished being on the back bench.

Pollock’s spell of 4-0-12-3 today may not read as well as Shoaib Akhtar’s 3-0-11-4 at Kolkata the other day, but it was equally decisive. And when Pollock’s wards, Bravo and Thornley, followed the path shown by their master, Kolkata Knight Riders were dismissed for the lowest score of the tournament — 67 — and the worst defeat IPL has seen so far. Losing by eight wickets with 87 balls to spare in a Twenty20 game is like a Test match finishing on Day One.

Despite his second Man of the Match award, Pollock still wouldn’t figure in many inane head-to-head contests that are marketing tools to sell games. He neither runs in from the sightscreen, nor does he get the speedometer to go bonkers.

Pollock’s bowling style isn’t the kind that has the crowd clapping in anticipation. He bowls from a shortened run-up, and the movement of the ball is precise rather than exaggerated. His art isn’t the kind that can be easily understood and that quite explains the limited applause he gets. And finally, he isn’t even known to indulge in headline-catching mind games.

Master Congeniality

But hold a random poll in any dressing room that Pollock has been in, and the South African would win the Mr Congeniality contest hands down. Ask Bravo, who leaves after one more game. Asked if the IPL made him any wiser and he nods vigorously. “I have gained a lot of experience. I get a lot of help from other internationals in the dressing room, especially Shaun Pollock. Basically, when you have to play a particular bowler, they make me aware of how to face him. Shaun is someone I look up to. He is an all-rounder and so am I. I really appreciate being next to him. He is a fantastic guy. He has showed me about different balls in a short space of time — the slower ball, the slower bumper...” he says, losing his breath as he speaks about his latest idol.

Thornley too doesn’t hold back. “It’s an education watching him go about his job so silently,” he said.

As the crowds moved out of the Wankhede Stadium, feeling a bit cheated after the much-hyped game ended in a damp squib, they remained animated. Mostly, they spoke about Sanath Jayasuriya’s 17-ball 48 and the six he hit off Shoaib Akhtar. A few celebrated star sightings in Shahrukh Khan’s stand.

But none spoke about how Pollock got the wickets of Hussey and Hafeez. A perfectly pitched ball, batsmen in dilemma as to come forward or play back, both edging the ball to slip. Pollock may not be as flamboyant as some of the faster men who have played the game, but he can be successful in cricket’s pop format as well.