The legend is not dependent on any player. He is at rank high enough to get there. And any ranking can't decide how great he as a player is. Paes and Bopanna should be a team only because they are best placed Indian players on rankings. And Paes had asked to partner Bopanna only because he wanted to have next best ranked player.
Just a reminder to you Paes has won 4 grand slams recently compared to ZERO of Bopanna. He did not have a stable partner and some injuries costed him in rankings. You can not say he isn't playing as good as Bopanna on circuit only because he is ranked lower. He made Quarters at RG, so did Bopanna with his regular partner. He won title in Mixed, while Bopanna lost in second round itself.
Yes and last time Paes was wrong so he is missing mixed doubles this year. All settles here.
He deserves to be in Men's Doubles more than any other player. Saketh Myneni over Leander, really?