Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 38, Cricketer

If Sourav Ganguly can be credited with changing the attitude of Indian cricket, then it was his successor Mahendra Singh Dhoni who methodically, and often ruthlessly, shaped the team into world champion and not perpetual aspirant. Dhoni is not just one of the greatest cricketers and captains of the game but also gifted with the touch of victory as he showed in repeatedly winning the Indian Premier League and, in 2011, the one-day World Cup. He insisted on fielding as a criterion by which selections would be done and thereby evicted many in the old guard to bring in fresh, hungry cricketers. He himself took on the onus of being the rearguard foil to prevent collapses. He is called the finisher of the game for a reason. His imminent retirement will mean the end of an era, but Dhoni’s stamp will always be evident every time the Indian cricket team plays.

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