NEWS
Follow UsFormer South Africa captain Shaun Pollock reckons Ishant Sharma's absence from the Newlands Test needs to be communicated to him given what he has achieved in Tests for India over the years.
Ishant was a regular in the Indian team until a few months ago, but now finds himself low in the pecking order. The latest such example being when Umesh Yadav replacing the injured Mohammed Siraj in Cape Town.
Speaking of Ishant's exclusion, Pollock said, “I think the communication needs to be good. The guy needs to be respected for what he has done."
“You need to be honest with him and you need to give him the exact reason. If the reason was 'we think you would be better suited if there were no left-handers,' he just has to accept that.”
Ishant, who has picked up 311 wickets from 105 Tests did not feature in the first two Tests at Centurion and the Wanderers as well. Siraj was preferred ahead of him in the series and with him out with a hamstring injury, the team management has decided to get Umesh in.
Pollock says Ishant will be disappointed not to have sat out the entire series.
“It's not easy, when you have played that much amount of cricket and have given some really good service. The conditions are good in South Africa and he must be dying for an opportunity, particularly after those two pitches. He must be thinking, 'Gosh if I could just have a game here, I'm sure I could make an impact',” said Pollock.
"I hope the communication with him has been good because he deserves that and then he has to assess where he is at."
India are in a good position in the third Test, currently lead South Africa by 70 runs with eight wickets in hand in the second innings.