Several faces were shocked when the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) shelled out a massive sum of £14.25 crore at the IPL auction beginning this year to pick Glenn Maxwell.
The misgivings were not wrong. Over the years, Maxwell’s name had become compatible with poor performance in the IPL.
Earlier to 2021, the dashing Australian batter, who initiated his IPL debut in 2012, had been part of the cash-rich league on 8-occasions, serving 3-different franchises – Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), and Mumbai Indians(MI).
Nevertheless, barring the 2014 release, when he accumulated 552 runs at an average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 187.75 to walk away with the Extremely Valuable Player (MVP) honor, there was not a single period when his numbers been worth to his lofty reputation.
In fact, in his previous 2-IPL seasons (2018 and 2020, he didn’t play in 2019), his batting stats were so poor that calling them ordinary would be an underestimation.
In 2018, he secured just 169 runs in 14 games at an average of 14.08, and in 2020, he recorded a mere 108 runs in 13 matches at an average of 15.42. He didn’t cross the 50-run mark even once in those 27 matches.
Glenn Maxwell in IPL 2021
Coming into the IPL 2021, Glenn Maxwell had his job cut out. Nevertheless, playing under the guidance of Virat Kohli for the RCB this period, the unusual Aussie has conducted to exorcise his past IPL demons with a streak of Game-defining completion.
On this Sunday, he bludgeoned a 33-ball 57 to help RCB eke out a close 6-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) to win for the IPL 2021 playoffs.
He came out to bat when RCB was decreased to 68 for 2 in the tenth over. It soon converted 73 for 3 in the twelfth over. As evidenced by Kohli’s slow 24-ball 25, the pitch looked quite tough to secured freely at this stage.
I played well in the last 2 years in professional cricket (not IPL)… makes a difference in quotes doesn’t it? #iknowistruggledlastyearinIPL https://t.co/LvZTzUla3L
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) October 3, 2021
The clarity factor
Let there be Carnage and let there be lots of it. 🤩
Venomous form right now. 💪🏻#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2021 #Venom pic.twitter.com/6SjXCyyy8T
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 4, 2021
“A bit of clarity, I think I have been clear in my mind. I have found a nice bit of rhythm batting at no.4. This is something I have had with Australia for a long period of time (clarity in the role), this is perhaps why I have had success over there. Coming into the RCB, they wanted me to do the same type of role.”
Also read:- RCB vs PBKS IPL 2021: Virat Kohli reacts “It feels amazing, Eight wins out of 12 games is a great campaign.