Jay Mehta

Bangalore/ On board 6E 349: Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey weren’t on the same flight as most of their Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) teammates, on Monday evening, so the popularity chart was topped by captain Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan and the iconic Jacques Kallis.

The order kept fluctuating, though.

Despite being fielded in just eight of the 17 matches in IPL VII, Kallis was mobbed at the airport before boarding was announced.

Clearly, Kallis is in a very different league.

Asked by The Telegraph if he was disappointed at missing out on much of the campaign, Kallis said: “Yeah, but it’s fine as KKR won... If the team’s winning, I don’t have an issue.”

Gambhir preferred keeping to himself, but Yusuf did have some things to say.

Yusuf, incidentally, is the only one to have featured in a winning team on three occasions — the Rajasthan Royals (2008) and, then, KKR twice.

“Mujhe record ke bare mein maloom nahin tha. I was told about it after the final... Achchi baat hai, records should be made,” Yusuf maintained, speaking exclusively.

Sunday’s final was watched, among others, by Yusuf’s parents.

Co-owner Jay Mehta is a fan of Yusuf and, on the flight, came over to this Reporter to confirm that word about the feat indeed had spread.

Asked if he’d been confident that the target (200) would be reached, Jay replied: “I was, because of the quality of KKR and big totals can be overhauled at the Chinnaswamy.”

Jay pointed out that, unlike in 2012, he enjoyed the occasion. “Two years ago, it was a first for us... There was too much tension. This time, I quite enjoyed the final.”

Principal owner Shah Rukh Khan is rather different. Jay, on the other hand, has always come across as being calm.

Perfectly happy being in the background, too, quite like KKR coach Trevor Bayliss.

As in 2012, wife Juhi has accompanied Jay on the trip to Calcutta for the celebrations.

Sunil Narine has left for home, so he won’t be feted by Mamata Banerjee. Morne Morkel, Andre Russell and Ryan ten Doeschate are also set to miss the show.

Two years ago, Lakshmipathy Balaji had been with KKR. On Sunday, he was in the Kings XI Punjab shirt.

Balaji’s experience made George Bailey opt for him, but the medium pacer got clobbered. “It was a hard day... On most days, we’d be able to defend 199, but it wasn’t to be. Credit to KKR,” he said, while going to board a flight for Chennai.

As an after-thought, Balaji asked: “Big celebrations again, in Calcutta?”

That’s the plan. Hopefully, it will remain dignified and not get chaotic. One should honour the Gambhirs, not seek to bask in KKR’s reflected glory.