Glenn Maxwell rested for IPL matches because of side strain
There was a shock in store for Kings XI Punjab fans on Monday when the team lists were flashed out – Glenn Maxwell would not play against Royal Challengers Bangalore, making way for South Africa’s Farhaan Behardien. KXIP would agonisingly lose the match by 1 run, as Maxwell’s absence was sorely felt.
There have been many speculations as to why the Australian all-rounder was missing in action. With no official report forthcoming on his absence, there were many speculations, with the most common reaction being dumbfoundedness.
Maxwell, like the rest of his KXIP teammates, has not enjoyed the best of times in IPL 9, but was coming into good touch, as evinced from his 68 against KKR earlier this month. Despite there having been early calls for his head in the initial stages of the season, the potentially lethal cricketer, who looks capable of winning matches before breakfast, has since then given a much better account of himself.
Some reactions to his exclusion:
So, #KXIP waited long enough for Maxwell to find his form and the moment he started looking good, he got benched. Interesting. #KXIPvRCB
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 9, 2016
It happens only in India..Gayle & Maxwell getting dropped by their teams can happen only in #IPL!! #RCBvKXIP
— Girin Govind (@GirinGovind) May 9, 2016
Glenn Maxwell has more runs, more fifties, a better average and a better strike rate than Miller. And he gets left out.
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) May 9, 2016
However, as can be seen from later developments, Maxwell was being rested for the RCB game, and not benched. The Australian himself sent out a tweet, praising the team for the appetite for fight shown by them in defeat. He also said that he hoped he would recover from the injury in time to play in the next match.
Gut wrenching loss for the guys tonight! Played their hearts out all night. Hopefully I can recover from this injury for next game! #kingsxi
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) May 9, 2016
Maxwell’s teammate Marcus Stoinis was fleetingly asked during the match about Maxwell’s situation, to which he said, “Yeah, he’s got a minor strain, he’s injured at the moment. But we’re hoping to have him back as soon as possible, hopefully next game.”
Maxwell had suffered an injury scare earlier on in the season as well, after having been hit on the hand during a practice session. It is not thought to be an eventuality at this stage that Maxwell is to join the long list of Australians who have pulled out of the tournament with injuries.