Opting to bat first in the first IPL semi-final at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, the Indians were lifted to a formidable 184 for five by superb batting performances from Saurabh Tiwary (52 not out), Ambati Rayudu (40) and an excellent cameo from Pollard (33).
The West Indies international then took three for 17 in his four overs as the Royal Challengers caved in and were restricted to 149 for nine in what eventually fizzled out into a one-sided game.
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Abhishek Nayar (22) and Rayudu, however, briefly arrested the slide and lifted the Indians' run rate with a flurry of boundaries which had the Royal Challengers rattled and left their side poised nicely on 54 for two at the end of the powerplay.
Captain Anil Kumble called the Royal Challengers into a huddle during the strategic time-out and, when they returned, Kumble brought himself and Pietersen on to bowl from either end.
Pietersen secured the breakthrough by removing Nayar and Kumble struck in his second over to scalp JP Duminy cheaply, and the Royal Challengers again had the advantage as the two spinners put the brakes on the scoring.
But Kumble slipped up when he brought on Virat Kohli in the 14th and Tiwary, who had joined Rayudu at Nayar's dismissal, immediately eased the pressure by hitting the part-time bowler for a six in an over which yielded 10.
Tiwary then cut loose and, with Rayudu chipping in nicely, the Indians easily wrested the initiative.
Rayudu fell after a 67-run stand with Tiwary, but his replacement Pollard smacked three sixes and a four in his 13-delivery stint as the Indians finished on a high.
The Indians carried the momentum into the second innings as Jacques Kallis (11), who had earlier conceded 25 from two overs, completed a forgettable match when he edged Lasith Malinga to wicketkeeper Rayudu.
Although several batsmen got starts thereafter, the Royal Challengers lost wickets regularly and were out of the contest long before the final delivery.
Pietersen (19) was castled by Harbhajan Singh in the bowler's first over immediately after fielding restrictions were relaxed.
Although Robin Uthappa (26) and Rahul Dravid (23), who had opened alongside Kallis, briefly kept the chase alive, their dismissals within the space of two deliveries pegged the Royal Challengers back.
Pollard, who had removed Uthappa in his first over, then had Kohli caught behind and it was all over bar the shouting.
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