Ishant Sharma, the teen pace sensation of Indian cricket team, is a treasure which India need to protect well to keep firing at the opposition batting line-ups, former India paceman T A Sekar said on Monday.

Sekar, the former MRF Pace Foundation head coach, said Sharma was a unique talent which needed to be handled cautiously.

"Ishant is a treasure. We need to wrap him in cotton wool and protect him so that he can last long. He makes a good combination with Zaheer.

"It's important that we monitor his progress well. We should never play him if he feels even a little uncomfortable," Sekar said on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi.

Sekar, who was here to announce Gatorade Pacers – a talent hunt programme -- said the 20-year-old Sharma need to improve his physique which will make him even better.

"He has to build up his body. That is going to help him survive for long. He knows his body best and should be given immediate rest even if he encounters a niggle," he said.

However, Sekar did not read much into Sharma getting injured so early in his career as he missed the first two one-dayers of the India-England series.

"Any bowler, who is bowling at a speed of 135 kms or more, will face some injuries. Ishant just had a niggle at that time and it was sensible to rest him."

Meanwhile, former India strike bowler Javagal Srinath said the exposure of Twenty20 cricket has helped Zaheer Khan and Ishant become better bowlers in longer formats of the game.

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