Glenn Maxwell explains how Virender Sewag's relaxed attitude brought fresh perspective to his own game
Glenn Maxwell helped Australia seal the one-day international series against India with his explosive 96-run innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Following the match, he was asked by one journalist if he was a distant cousin of Virender Sehwag.
The 27-years-old responded in an amused manner and commented on his former Indian Premier League teammate's hair. “I have more hair than Sehwag,” he stated.
Both Maxwell and Sehwag played together for Kings XI Punjab team in IPL and share a very good bond. Their playing style is almost similar as both go for big hits rather than playing tuk-tuk cricket like many others.
Statistically, we can’t compare Maxwell to Sehwag but both players share similarities on how they approach the game. The Aussie all-rounder today spoke about what he has learnt from Sehwag. He particularly talked about Sehwag’s relaxed approach to the game.
"He's a guy who’s so chilled out and laid back. He doesn't get so caught up in his results. He'll just say 'Someday Sehwag hits ball, it's OK. Some days not such, it's OK too. Tomorrow sun comes up, it's OK'.
"With that sort of attitude it gives a fresh perspective on the way you look at your own game as well. Not putting as much pressure on yourself to perform and try to enjoy the game a bit more as well," he said.
Another Australian destructive batsman, David Warner, talked about how Sehwag influenced him and what he learnt from him when both were part of the same IPL team (Delhi Daredevils).
Warner recalled the tips former Indian opener gave and said: "When I went to Delhi (in 2009), Sehwag watched me a couple of times and said to me, 'You'll be a better Test cricketer than what you will be a Twenty20 player'.
"I basically looked at him and said, 'Mate, I haven't even played a first-class game yet'. But he said, 'All the fielders are around the bat, if the ball is there in your zone you're still going to hit it. You're going to have ample opportunity to score runs'.
"(He) always says that the more balls that you see you're going to be tempted to try and score runs but you've just got to keep in the back of your mind what your zones are. If it's in his zone, he backs himself."
India have already lost the 5-match series as Australia now hold an unassailable lead of 3-0. Next match will be played in Canberra on January 20.