New Delhi: Not responding to phone calls and text messages of chief selector Vinay Lamba has cost Ishant Sharma a place in the 15-man Delhi squad for its Ranji Trophy opener against Rajasthan starting October 1.

Ishant is the most notable exclusion from the squad as he would have been free for Ranji Trophy duty with his name not being there in the Indian team that takes on visiting South Africa in the three T20 Internationals and five ODIs starting October 2.