Rahul Dravid

Having anchored an entire nations cricketing hopes for 16 years,he leaves the grounds where he ruled,the first of our maestros to do so. He was a player who always put the team first. When it found itself on a sticky wicket,he put his hand up. Whether it was opening the innings in the twilight of his career in England last year or slipping on the wicketkeepers gloves so that one more batsman could be accommodated for the 2003 Cup,Dravid was the wall for all seasons. Numbers reveal the magnificence of that innings a Test career with 13,288 runs behind only Tendulkars 15,470,with 36 hundreds and an average of 52.31. But,as with all heroes,theres more to it.

Even as Dravid seeks out the simple pleasures of buying grocery or dropping his kid off to school,Indian cricket should seek him out. In these times of transition,his advice could shape the next generation of world-beaters. Hes a reminder of the gritty beginnings of Team India and he should be drafted in to help map the future,for youngsters learning to juggle three formats. For,as he revealed in the Bradman Memorial lecture,he has a precious blueprint: drawn from a beautiful mind in a beautiful game.