Teenager Ishant Sharma was on Wednesday asked to join the Indian cricket team in South Africa, a dream opportunity for the rookie fast bowler who made his Ranji debut only this season.

The 18-year-old Delhi paceman would fly out to South Africa on December 31 ahead of India's third and final cricket Test starting on January 2.

The decision to send the promising medium pacer was taken at the behest of Chairman of Selectors Dilip Vengsarkar who had watched the 6 feet 4 inch tall Sharma in action during Delhi's first Ranji match of the season against Tamil Nadu earlier this month.

"Ishant has been asked to leave for South Africa on December 31 morning," BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said.

Sharma has been roped in to reinforce India's fast bowling resources which have been laid bare on account of poor form of Irfan Pathan and fitness worries over Munaf Patel.

The Baroda left-arm paceman picked just one wicket from three ODIs on the tour and was ignored for the first two Tests against the hosts. He has been asked by the team management to fly back home and concentrate on domestic cricket.

Munaf has been nursing a sore left ankle since the second one-dayer against South Africa on November 22 and is yet to play another game for the visitors.

While Munaf bowled for eight overs in a practice game before the second Test, he was not picked in the eleven with the team management persisting with the pace combination of the first Test comprising Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth and VRV Singh.

With just one Test remaining in the series, Sharma may not earn the Indian cap but would still get a chance to be a part of Team India and get a feel of big-time cricket first hand.

The surprise call-up is seen as a reward for his fine performance in the last four Ranji Trophy matches in which he took 19 wickets at an average of 19.52 and economy rate of 2.41.

He also impressed for India U-19 during the tour of England and Pakistan earlier this year. With 18 wickets from the U-19 matches last season, Ishant was also picked for the junior camp at National Cricket Academy.

His stint at NCA earned him a debut in Ranji Trophy where he has rattled batsmen with his sharp inswingers and speed touching 130 kmph regularly.