Glenn Maxwell, the middle-order batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, struggled during the Indian Premier League 2024 season.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced elimination from the IPL 2024 season after losing to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday evening. This defeat sparked criticism from former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra, who questioned RCB’s handling of Glenn Maxwell.
Maxwell’s lackluster performance in the first half of the season contributed to instability in RCB’s middle order, ultimately leading to his replacement by England’s Will Jacks. However, with Jacks returning to England for national duty, Maxwell was brought back for the playoffs. On Wednesday, Maxwell had the opportunity to make a significant impact and help RCB set a competitive total in the first innings. Unfortunately, he was dismissed on the very first ball he faced. The manner of his dismissal, rather than the fact of it, drew considerable criticism.
“Glenn Maxwell – what do you do Sir? Honestly speaking, I think he doesn’t even have 70-80 runs in nine matches. 28 is probably his highest score and he has a strike rate of 120. Firstly, the shot he played – how, why, a player had just gotten out and you also slogged and got out. Is there no accountability?” he said on his YouTube channel.
In this season, the 35-year-old player struggled significantly for RCB, managing to score only 52 runs across ten matches with a dismal average of 5.77. According to Chopra, Maxwell’s consistently casual attitude during the season contributed to his underwhelming performance.
“The team might also be thinking that he is such a big player and they give him 10 crore rupees, so they expect you to show a little cricketing smarts and play for them just like he plays for Australia. Sometimes you feel whether he cares or not. Does he actually feel for the side that strongly? I am sure he does but the way he plays poses a question for sure. He also dropped a straightforward catch,” Chopra added.
Additionally, the former England captain Kevin Pietersen was also enraged with Glenn Maxwell for his reckless shot selection. “What on earth was that from Glenn Maxwell? – Pietersen said during commentary.
“This is a huge game, you need your biggest players to perform, you need to give yourself a chance. That from Glenn Maxwell isn’t good enough,” he further added.
The Rajasthan Royals brought an end to the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s tumultuous campaign in the Indian Premier League with a hard-fought four-wicket victory in the Eliminator. After their bowlers successfully restricted RCB to 172/8, the Royals chased down the target of 173, finishing at 174/6, thanks to Rovman Powell’s decisive finishing touches in a tense conclusion. Riyan Parag, displaying his usual grit and determination in challenging circumstances, played a crucial role in keeping Rajasthan’s hopes alive in the tournament. This victory marked the Royals’ first win following four consecutive losses and a game that was abandoned.
