IPL 2020: Did Kings XI Punjab show more than necessary faith in Glenn Maxwell?
When Kings XI Punjab’s campaign started, they were silently optimistic. They had put together a solid team and had a lot of bases covered. One player they had placed their highest bets on was Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell had been with KXIP from 2014-2017. His 2014 season where he scored almost 550 runs, till date, remains one of the most scintillating seasons by a batsman. While he didn’t do much the next few years, Maxwell had a terrific T20I run in 2019, and KXIP, having bought him at more than 10cr, hoped their reinvestment would pay rich dividends. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. Maxwell had a disastrous season, contributing almost nothing with the bat. Let us discuss whether KXIP trusted Glenn Maxwell a bit too much in IPL 2020 or not.
From 2018-2020, Glenn Maxwell scored 770 runs in 24 T20I innings, at an average of 40.5 and SR of 151.3, with 4 50s and 2 tons. It was as good a record as any batsman can have in T20. The numbers back the theory of Glenn Maxwell being a match-winner. On his day, Maxwell can single-handedly take his team over the line. He may lack consistency, but such players are extremely essential for a T20 team.
Glenn Maxwell on his forgettable #IPL2020 season. ?
Will a dismal season impact his form in the upcoming #AUSvIND series? ? pic.twitter.com/CdVmwHdHZn
— SportsAdda (@sportsadda_) November 21, 2020
Hence, it was obvious for KXIP to stick with Maxwell even after a few poor innings early on. It is also important to remember, Maxwell had scored 300 runs in 5 innings in UAE in 2014, with three back to back man of the match awards. Such players need just one innings to regain form, and they wanted to give Maxwell enough time to get that game. It was sensible on their part to back a match-winner. It is unfortunate that Maxwell never regained form.
Lack of alternative options
It is also a fact that KXIP lacked suitable options. They did not have a direct replacement for Maxwell who could bat at 5 or 6 for them. They did have someone like Jimmy Neesham, but even he didn’t exude enough confidence in the couple of games he played early on. Sarfaraz Khan, Krishnappa Gowtham, none of KXIP’s finishers did anything to make the KXP management feel that they could do for them what Maxwell wasn’t being able to. And because that did not happen, KXIP might have wanted to stick with the more established name.
On the other hand, when you have a look at Maxwell’s stats, they are shambolic. In 11 innings, Maxwell managed just 108 runs, at a SR of just 101.9, and shockingly, he did not hit a single six throughout the tournament. Irrespective of the reputation, such returns are unacceptable for any player. Also, it was very clear from the first few games that Maxwell wasn’t in any kind of form.
Maxwell has been a consistent disaster in the IPL. Apart from the breakthrough 2014 season, Maxwell has next to no returns in the IPL. KXIP should have taken a cue from that. If a player hasn’t done well historically, it is important to understand it is more of a mindset problem. The long rope given to Maxwell also seemed to have made him complacent of his place. Chris Gayle was out of the playing XI initially. His presence earlier in the team, at the cost of Maxwell, could have perhaps turned their fortunes around faster.
The call on Maxwell was a tricky one for KXIP. Like we saw with the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner, even though they may not have had the best of starts, they single-handedly won their team a few matches at the end. KXIP would have been hoping for the same. But purely because Maxwell was never looking in form, and also the fact that he has consistently underperformed in the IPL, KXIP did end up trusting him a bit too much.
