Ravichandran Ashwin may have had a roller-coaster ride in international cricket of late but for Sachin Tendulkar, the senior off-spinner remains "an integral part of the national set-up". Ashwin, who has an impressive Test record with 342 wickets from 65 matches, lost his place in the playing XI to Ravindra Jadeja when it came to playing outside the Indian sub-continent.  The 33-year-old will start afresh when he dons the national colours after 10 months against the Proteas in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.  "Ashwin is one of the leading bowlers. And he has done well not with just the ball but also contributed by scoring crucial runs. So, I think he is an integral part of this Indian team without any doubt," Sachin Tendulkar told PTI during an exclusive interaction.

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'One of the most important players', says Sachin Tendulkar

The senior off-spinner has had his share of injuries and an occasional slump in form while playing abroad but Sachin Tendulkar feels that while judging Ashwin, his overall impact during all these years should be factored in. "I think ups and downs are going to be there in everyone's career. Ashwin has been around for a long time and has done well, shown consistency. Ashwin for me remains one of the most important players in this Indian set-up," said world's top run-getter in Tests and ODI cricket. On the upcoming three-match series, Sachin Tendulkar termed India as favourites but warned that it will be far from a cakewalk as far as the home team is concerned. "Obviously, India start as favourites. However, if we think that this series will be a cakewalk, then we are mistaken. But yes, for South Africa to make a match of it, they will really have to bat well," said Sachin Tendulkar. 

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'Ashwin is always going to be threat'

Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday confirmed the inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the upcoming test series against South Africa. Ashwin and Jadeja took 54 wickets between them in India's 3-0 win in the four-Test series the last time the Proteas toured the country. Further throwing light on Jadeja's inclusion in the squad during the recent West Indies series, the skipper said that Jadeja's overseas performance in the past season played a pivotal role in his selection. "Yes, Ashwin and Jadeja will both start here. Look, Jaddu (Jadeja) we felt was in a better one as far as him performing overseas and what he has done in the past season for the team. From that point of view, he started in the West Indies.(sic)"

Ashwin, who has been missing from the squad has been included for the first test against the Proteas. Heaping praises over Ashwin's consistency in home conditions, Kohli said,

"But wherever the conditions provide us to go-ahead with two spinners, obviously Ash (Ashwin) is always going to be a threat and in home conditions, with his batting credentials and the way he bowls as well, he is always going to be starting with Jadeja so that was a no-brainer for us. But backing Jadeja to play in West Indies was because of the season he had and the overseas performance that he has put in the past as well."

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