Lack of pressure will allow Maxwell to have an IPL that everyone expects: Daniel Vettori

Former all-rounder Daniel Vettori believes that the attention on Kohli and De Villiers could make life much easier for Maxwell in IPL 2021. RCB bought Glenn Maxwell at the IPL 2021 mini-auction for a whopping amount of INR 14.25 crore. The Australian was released by Punjab Kings after managing to score only 108 runs in 13 games last year. However, Maxwell twitched off his lousy form soon after the conclusion of IPL 2020. The Australian batsman put up an outstanding show against India in white-ball matches. In the three ODI series, he slammed 167 runs at an average of 83.50 and a strike rate of 194.18. According to Vettori, with other batting legends around, the lack of pressure could work in Maxwell’s favour in the forthcoming IPL season. 

Despite his image as a big-hitter, Glenn Maxwell has failed to make a consistent impression in the Indian Premier League. In 82 IPL games, he has scored 1505 runs at an average of 22.13 and a strike rate of 154.67. Maxwell’s best IPL campaign came in 2014 when he scored 552 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 187.75. Apart from that season, the Australian had scored 300 runs in an IPL season only once, when he tallied 310 runs in 2017.

Glenn Maxwell should be given the leadership role: Daniel Vettori

Even though Virat Kohli will be leading RCB, Vettori believes that giving some responsibility to Glenn Maxwell could work in the team’s favour. The Australian all-rounder is the captain of Melbourne Stars in the BBL. Daniel Vettori opines that since Virat and de Villiers garner most of the limelight of the RCB team, Maxwell can thrive on his own and replicate his 2014 form. Apart from their first three games in Chennai, RCB will play the rest of their IPL matches on batting-friendly pitches in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. Thus, this will help the dynamic batsman score runs at his own pace.

Despite having star-studded rosters over the years, RCB is yet to win the IPL title. But after making a few additions to their team, Kohli & co. will enhance their chances of going all the way this year. RCB will play the first match of the tournament against MI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 9. Virat Kohli and the team will play their first three opening leg matches of IPL 2021 in Chennai.

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