One innings that made Ashton Turner an overnight sensation ahead of IPL 2019

Like many cricket fans in India, Ashton Turner also had ‘no idea’ why he was picked for the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year. But only till March 10 when he set the PCA Stadium in Mohali ablaze. Playing in just his second ODI as Marcus Stoinis got injured, the 26-year-old came out to bat with Australia needing 130 runs from 83 deliveries. He added 42 runs with centurion Peter Handscomb (117) and 86 with wicket-keeper-batsman Alex Carey (21) to take his side home with 13 balls yet to be bowled.

Turner remained unbeaten on 84 in just 43 balls and was picked as the Man of the Match as Australia squared the series 2-2. The Western Australia cricketer had recently told The West Australian over his pick by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for IPL 2019: “I have no idea why they picked me?” The straight-forwardness of the cricketer showed when he didn’t utter the customary amazement on being picked for one of the biggest T20 tournaments in the world and expressed just what he felt had turned many a head around.

Although a novice in international cricket with two ODIs and five T20Is, Turner, however, has been quite a seasoned T20 player now as he has appeared in 74 games already in six years and has an impressive strike rate of over 138. Just weeks before the start of the IPL, the 43-ball 84 not out will certainly push Turner right among the top names of the tournament.

The cricketer was bought at the fag end of the auction last December for Rs 50 lakh and he will be picking up the bat for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) after the ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE gets over on March 31. Maybe the Royals’ management was not feeling as bad as the rest of the country after Sunday’s Waterloo.

‘Once Ashton makes up his mind, he doesn’t go around much’

That Ashton’s now famous one-line reply on his upcoming IPL debut gave a glimpse of his nature. The same was also confirmed by his long-time club coach Joe Piromalli who said that for the cricketer, there is no in-between.

“He doesn’t say a lot but once he’s made his mind, he doesn’t go around much. When we have a conversation, it’s pretty quick,” he was quoted as saying by CricBuzz.

Not too many will disagree after his match-winning knock.

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