New Delhi: The BCCI recently honored Ravichandran Ashwin at its annual awards presenting him with a special recognition to celebrate his remarkable career. The Indian cricket legend retired from international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and returned home having played just one game in Australia. Now Ashwin is preparing for his IPL comeback with the Chennai Super Kings. Speaking at the BCCI awards Ashwin shared his deep admiration for cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar revealing that it was always his dream to stand beside him on the field. He expressed My dream was to stand next to Sachin Tendulkar and play the game. It was gratification and a dream come true for a very normal middle-class guy. Reflecting on his career Ashwin acknowledged the challenges and highs he has experienced saying The entire journey has been a huge high difficult to put a finger on a single performance. For me the entire journey has been about discovery and rediscovery. He also noted his evolution both as a cricketer and an individual and highlighted the strong relationships he has built in the latter half of his career. Ashwins Debut and Early Days with Sachin Tendulkar R Ashwin made his debut for India in 2010 and for the next three years he shared the dressing room with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Ashwin was part of the iconic 2011 World Cup-winning team though as a rookie he played only two matches during the tournament. This period marked the beginning of his journey with the Indian cricket team alongside some of the greatest cricketers including Sachin. Test Debut and Evolution in Red-Ball Cricket Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 and quickly became a mainstay in Indias spin attack particularly in home conditions. His performance in Test cricket saw him rise to prominence and by the time Sachin Tendulkar retired in November 2013 Ashwin had already established himself as a crucial member of the team. He even led India’s spin department during Sachin’s farewell series creating a lasting legacy in the red-ball format.