An apocryphal story freely circulated about Sachin Tendulkar holds that for most of his career India's selectors never debated his place in the national team. They merely asked him if he was available.
The diminutive 40-year-old Mumbai native has enjoyed the same iconic status off the field since his Karachi debut in 1989.
For a star-starved nation disgusted with tainted politicians and mediocre sportsmen, Tendulkar's self-discipline, fiercely private family life and controversy-free image make him a role model for the country's burgeoning youth population.