The 54 balls that he bowled to the world's highest-ranked Test batsman Ricky Ponting was the "turning point" of his life, said India's pace sensation Ishant Sharma.

The gangling 6'4" Delhi speedster, hailed as the find of the just-concluded Australian tour, has cool head despite being thrust into limelight suddenly.

The 19 year old cricketer said in an interview here "the nine overs during which I bowled Ponting out (in Perth Test) are very important for me. That was the turning point of my life. This tour was very crucial for me. It has changed my whole life".

Big bucks, hysterical fans and media adulation that comes with cricket stardom have not gone to his head.

"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, his predecessor Steve Waugh described the Delhiite 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 emerged as India's highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps from nine matches in the tri-series.