New Delhi, Oct. 19: A galaxy of stars may have turned out for the inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20, but one man helped to set the event alight in its very early days - Jean-Paul Duminy of the Cape Cobras.

Chasing an imposing 181 and up against a raucous, partisan Bengaluru crowd, Duminy turned the tables on Royal Challengers Bangalore with a scintillating unbeaten 99 off 52 deliveries studded with eight fours and five huge sixes.

An impressed former Australia captain Ian Chappell called Duminy the 'next big thing' in cricket after Ricky Ponting.

The 25-year-old southpaw remains grounded in spite of the glowing tributes coming his way. "I am really enjoying myself out here. I don't like to look too far ahead. Every game is a new beginning for me," Duminy told this newspaper.

"Personally the tournament has been going along very well. But more importantly the team has been gelling really well and playing great cricket. It feels great to play a role in my team's victories," he added.

The southpaw is currently the second-highest scorer in the tournament with 163 runs so far and considers this tournament a good learning ground.

"I haven't played in India before. This tournament is good preparation since the third edition of the Indian Premier League will be staged in India and I hope to do well for the Mumbai Indians. Also the South African team are to tour India shortly and hopefully my knowledge of the conditions will help me perform better," Duminy said.

On his experience of playing with the Mumbai Indians earlier this year, he said, "While playing for the Mumbai-based team, I got to interact with a lot of players from around the world.

"In the Champions League, playing for the Cobras away from home is a unique experience since I have known and grown up playing cricket with them all my life."

Duminy also got a chance to spend some time with Sachin Tendulkar in the IPL and is in awe of the legend. "Tendulkar is a world-class player and it was an honour to play with him. I spoke to him at length in South Africa and learnt a lot," he said.

Finally on South Africa's shock exit from the Champions Trophy, he said, "The disappointment levels were huge, especially so close on the back of the world T20 championship exit.

"After all the hype of coming into the Champions Trophy as the No. 1 team in the world and then to end last in our group was hugely disappointing. We know we let a lot of people down."