Following a lackluster start to the season, Glenn Maxwell of Royal Challengers Bengaluru disclosed that he requested to be taken out of the starting lineup in order to rejuvenate both physically and emotionally. Admittedly, the brilliant Australian all-rounder came into the 2024 Indian Premier League fresh off of his finest six-month stretch in international cricket. However, he has failed to convert that form into runs for the Royals, managing just 32 runs at an average of 5.33 from six innings.
In response to a press conference held following RCB’s sixth loss in seven games, Maxwell stated, “For me, personally, it was a pretty easy decision,” on April 16. “After the last game, I spoke to Faf [du Plessis] and the coaches and said I thought it was probably time we tried someone new. I’ve been in a position where I could keep playing and dig myself even deeper into a hole. I believe that now is a wonderful moment for me to take a little mental and physical break and take care of my body. I can ideally go back into a really good physical and mental place where I can still have an impact if I have to check in during the event.
“After the powerplay, which has been my area of strength for the past two seasons, we have had a very significant deficit. I didn’t feel like I was making a good contribution with the bat, and given the outcomes and our current standing, I believe it’s appropriate to give someone else a chance to showcase their skills in the hopes that someone will be able to claim that slot for themselves.”
Maxwell used his season-opening loss to the Chennai Super Kings to highlight the erratic nature of the format and his sharp decline in performance. In the match, he was removed for a first-ball duck after being caught behind while attempting to race a delivery from Mustafizur Rahman to third man. The 35-year-old came into the season on a high after making two incredible T20I hundreds in three months, against Adelaide (against West Indies) and Guwahati (against India), following an ODI World Cup campaign in which he nearly pulled off an unbelievable double century in a chase against Afghanistan.
Between, Maxwell had a respectable BBL season with the Melbourne Stars, amassing 244 runs at a strike-rate of 173.57 from nine innings, making rapid, if not particularly large, runs.
“T20 cricket can be like that sometimes – it’s a pretty fickle game,” he thought. “Even in the opening game, I hit one to the keeper off the middle of the bat. I spotted a scoring opportunity and picked up the length extremely nicely, but I opened my face a bit too much. When things are going well, you get a boundary, go wide of the gloves, score four points instead of one, and you’re out for the tournament.
It’s probably just that I haven’t managed to escape. I think I made pretty excellent selections in the first three games, but I was still finding ways to get out. In Twenty20 cricket, it can occur, and when it does, you could seek far and wide, put in too much effort, and lose sight of the fundamentals of the sport.”
While tests did not reveal any major injuries, Maxwell’s blow to his hand during fielding in RCB’s previous away game against Mumbai Indians may have highlighted the need for a physical and psychological reset. In the end, the match versus SRH produced the greatest total runs scored in a Twenty20 contest—549. He was questioned if, looking back, he wished he had decided to lay this decision to rest after playing one more game. “I did notice during the powerplay that the pitch was not as slow and two-paced as it has been in the first few games,” Maxwell responded. And I realized that missing the game was definitely a mistake; it would have been enjoyable to be in the batter’s box.
“However, as I previously stated, I wanted to grant myself the freedom to play professional cricket by granting myself both a physical and emotional rest. I work really hard behind the scenes to prepare my physique for every game, and I take great pride in my performance. Considering that my body is on the wrong side of 30, it has been a difficult battle. That emotional and physical toll, I believe, simply tired me down a little.”
Maxwell has amassed 513 runs at 144.10, 301 runs at 169.1, and 400 runs at 183.49 between 2021 and 2023, respectively, throughout his three fantastic seasons with the RCB. It had indeed been a risky move for the franchise to sign Maxwell ahead of schedule for a whooping INR 14.25 crores. Because it had been seven years since he stunned everyone in the 2014 Indian Premier League, his future appearances were either earned on the strength of that memory or as a constant reminder of his talent in the Australian jersey.
Maxwell’s 2020 season with Kings XI Punjab, during which he scored a pitiful 108 runs across 13 games, was an especially low point. The Australian blamed his subpar performance on unclear instructions and unclear role expectations. When asked if the RCB’s new coaching staff, which includes Andy Flower and Mo Bobat, had experienced any comparable issues this season, he responded negatively and praised the team’s administration as “outstanding.”
Regarding the 2020 season, Maxwell remarked, “That was probably a different scenario.” “I was bowling extremely well at the time, and that was hurting me. I was therefore more effectively playing as a back end spinner [while batting]. There weren’t many balls left in the game because we had the two top run scorers in the competition at the time, KL [Rahul] and Mayank [Agarwal]. I thus failed to pick up any match rhythm. Furthermore, I was only ever there for a few balls at a time.
“At the time, I told the Kings XI management the same thing: we can have an international bowler take my place. However, we lacked an offspinner as well. I therefore played a bit like an overseas off-spinner with some batting ability.
“This place has excellent management. Together, we’ve been working on assuming some responsibility, and the off-field leadership team is doing everything they can to support us. Regretfully, when you’re in really terrific form, runs haven’t come as they should. Before this tournament, I don’t think I’ve played cricket in a better six months. Thus, it is aggravating when things turn out this way. But if I can align my mind and body, there’s no reason I can’t perform well in the tournament if I do get another chance.”
