WATCH: Ravichandran Ashwin and Harsha Bhogle discuss star India batter's big role in growth of 90s kids

Recently Ravichandran Ashwin made a comeback in the ODI series against Australia. He bowled brilliantly in the two ODIs he played. Ashwin broke the long-held record of Anil Kumble. He scalped three wickets in the 2nd ODI and became the highest wicket-taker against Australia, with 144 wickets.

Ashwin also replaced Axar Patel in the 15-man ODI World Cup 2023 squad. Axar has not fully recovered from his left quadriceps strain during India's Asia Cup Super Four encounter against Bangladesh. The veteran off-spinner might be a good inclusion keep the conditions in mind. The off-spinner is pretty handy with the bat as well, he can be a good No.8 batter if India needs him for batting.

Ahead of the marquee event, Ashwin opened up on Sachin Tendulkar’s role in making his professional career. In a recent episode of his KuttiStories series, Ashwin expressed his respect for Tendulkar. He further said that the 50-year-old was the one he used to look up to every morning.

When I saw Sachin bat, my stomach used to churn: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin stated that it was Tendulkar who helped shape his career. The 37-year-old said, "There is this whole group called ‘The 90s Kids,’ right? They talk about how Sachin Tendulkar was an emotion. What Sachin Tendulkar meant to them. You (Harsha) said that he was a poster boy of Indian cricket, wasn’t he? For me, he was the hope that I looked upon every day I got up in the morning."

Ashwin further stated, "When I saw Sachin bat, my stomach used to churn because when he got out, I knew India didn’t stand a chance at that point of time. Sachin was not just a poster boy. He was not just a hope. But he was everything. Not just in cricket. For a young Indian coming up in life, he was everything. Sachin Tendulkar was something else. He was not just a cricketer."

Ashwin describing what was Sachin Tendulkar for a cricket fan in 90's.

- The God of cricket. pic.twitter.com/rr5cDWBLGn

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 29, 2023

India will play a couple of warm-up matches ahead of their opener against Australia. First, will play against defending champions England in their first warm-up game and then the Netherlands.