Ravichandran Ashwin's future playing for India may have been a topic of debate ever since he has had injury issues and not played on the tour of Caribbean last month but legendary Sachin Tendulkar said the premier off-spinner remains an "integral part" of Team India's plans. 

With 342 wickets from 65 matches behind him, Ashwin has a fantastic record playing Test cricket for India. However, the 33-year-old has certainly fallen down in the pecking order in recent times to Ravindra Jadeja who played ahead of him against West Indies. 

"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," Tendulkar told PTI.

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Ashwin, not part of the limited overs set-up anymore, hasn't also featured in a Test since December last year. He'll certainly have a point to prove facing South Africa in the first game of the home series in Visakhapatnam starting Wednesday (October 2). 

"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 the master. 

Tendulkar reckons while India starts off the series against Proteas as firm favourites, it wouldn't still be a cakewalk for the hosts. 

"Obviously, India start as favourites. However if we think that this series will be cakewalk, then we are mistaken. But yes, for South Africa to make a match of it, they will really have to bat well," he concluded. 

(Inputs from PTI)