Unlike the Little Master, most cricketers, especially in India, have ignored the inevitable and gone out on a bitter note. Take the case of Mohammad Azharuddin. For somebody who has scored more than 15,000 runs (both Tests and ODIs), with 28 centuries, proving his credentials through Moin-ud-Dowla tourney or the South Zone Ranji Trophy league, is like belittling his own achievements.

The board and the selectors should have spared him this humiliation by publicly acknowledging his the services to Indian cricket and politely told him it was time to go. Azhar deserved the option of going out with grace rather than beingforced to fade into oblivion. Maybe his contractual obligations and endorsements are blinding him to see the writing on the wall.

But, this certainly is no way for a champion to go. The face of Indian cricket has gone through a marked change in the last couple of months. Young batsmen like Devang Gandhi and Vijay Bharadwaj have grabbed their chances and the future belongs to them. Azhar, with his fantastic fitness levels, may have carried on for some more time but blooding youngsters was always going to be a better and wiser option at this point of time.

A pity Azhar may not be able to get to the 100-Test club, ending two games short, but he would have enough memories both pleasant and unpleasant when he looks back at his career. Azhar had the cricketing world at his feet when, as a 22-year-old, he hit three centuries in his first three Tests against David Gower's Englishmen in '84-85; cricket guru Richie Benaud termed his century against England at the Lord's in '90 as one of the best he had ever seenand his on-side play evoked comparisons with a Greg Chappell or a Zaheer Abbas.

He owed a lot to 'Zed' Abbas. His poor form cast doubts over his place in the Indian team on the '89-90 tour of Pakistan when Abbas invited Azhar to his home and asked him to change his grip. It worked. Azhar not only saved his place in the side but was appointed its skipper for the subsequent tour to New Zealand.

With an easy-going and a laidback approach to whatever life had to offer, transition to the front rows was difficult. He was required to be the leader of the team of '90s with youngsters like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanjay Manjrekar and Anil Kumble on one hand and seniors like Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri and Dilip Vengsarkar on the other. The media added to his problems, wanting him to be stern, a far cry from the shy, soft-spoken Hyderabadi that he was.

That's where probably the problems lay. A reticent Azhar could not communicate as a leader. His actions were being closely scrutinised and Azhar's insecurities grew. TheNavjot Sidhu-episode was a direct fall out of this. His personal problems apart, Azhar's form deserted him again and with wins on tailor-made home pitches providing a contrast to our meek resistance abroad, Azhar started drawing flak. Azhar could not handle pressure and started distancing himself from the rest.

As a batsman, Azhar's extravagant strokeplay also made him flashy. He would play a blazing innings or two every now and then, but he couldn't really see the team through a crisis. There were even times when he appeared indifferent to the needs of the team and that reflected in his batting approach too. Azhar's wristy style and fine timing suited the sub-continent wickets. He had the skill to work the ball on the onside from way outside the off stump. It worked fine on the sub-continent wickets but on pitches with bounce, Azhar wasn't all that successful. He did not have the hook or pull shot in his armoury to counter the short ball. Dilip Vengsarkar, the Indian skipper on the West Indian '89 tour,accused Azhar of "running away from the stumps".

There were instances though when he took on fast bowlers with contempt. His hundred at Adelaide ('91-92), his slam-banging of Lance Klusener in Calcutta ('96-97) and then again at Capetown when India went to South Africa were a real treat to watch. But, these were also the knocks which showed Azhar's insecurity against fast bowling, forcing him to adopt a cavalier, do-or-die approach.

If, only Azhar had been more consistent abroad, he would have found a place alongside the all-time greats. Still, Indian cricket owes Azhar a lot. It is time for him to sit back and relax rather than be a golden leaf in autumn, hoping and praying to cling on to the next day.

The Azhar Factfile

Born: 8 February 1963, Hyderabad
Major Teams: India, Derbyshire, Hyderabad.
Test Debut: India v England at Calcutta, 3rd Test, 1984/85
Latest Test: India v Sri Lanka at Colombo, 1998/99
ODI Debut: India v England at Bangalore, 3rdODI, 1984/85
Latest ODI: India v NZL at Nottingham, World Cup, 1999
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1991