The 54 balls that he bowled to the world’s highest-ranked Test batsman Ricky Ponting were the “turning point” of his life, says India’s pace sensation Ishant Sharma.

The 6’4” Delhi speedster, hailed as the find of the Australian tour said: “The nine overs during which I bowled Ponting out (Perth Test) are very important for me. That was the turning point of my life”.

Big bucks, hysterical fans and media adulation that comes with cricket stardom have not gone to the 19-year-old’s head, however. “Everyone tells me don’t forget from where you’ve come. Never forget your roots,” said Ishant, son of an air conditioner mechanic.

While Ponting lavished praise on Ishant for producing “outstanding” spells, Steve Waugh described him as “next best thing in Indian cricket”.

“It is a good sign that every one has words of praise for me. To get a compliment from a great batsman like Ricky Ponting motivates me,” said the bowler, who had 14 scalps from nine matches in the tri-series.

Asked if all this praise has also put pressure on him, Ishant said it had only a positive influence on him. “It all depends on how you take it. I take it positively so I derive motivation from it. It is certainly going to help me if I am ever down,” he said.

He acknowledged, though, that it was a good feeling to be recognised. “Earlier, hardly anyone knew me but now everyone recognises who is Ishant, so it is a good feeling,” he said.