“Glenn Maxwell will single-handedly win a knockout match for RCB” – Wasim Akram’s big prediction ahead of IPL 2024 playoffs
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has backed Glenn Maxwell to deliver for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. Akram pointed out that Maxwell is a big-match player and that Australians always love to be competitive.
The legendary all-rounder further reminded the viewers about Maxwell’s double century in the ODI World Cup, where he single-handedly helped Australia beat Afghanistan.
Maxwell scored 16 runs off five balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to help put a 200+ target in their last league game. The right-hander, however, has managed just 52 runs in nine matches at an average of 6.50. With the ball, he has scalped six wickets at an economy rate of 8.06.
Akram told Sportskeeda’s ‘Match Ki Baat’:
“High risk, high reward. Glenn Maxwell will single-handedly win a knockout match for RCB. You have to stay calm with him in the dressing room. I know it’s frustrating. It must be frustrating for him as well.
“I know how Australians and especially Maxwell, how competitive he is and how much he wants to be successful. Remember his innings in the World Cup against Afghanistan, had cramps, couldn’t walk, played with one hand, and went on to score 200.”
“It was virtually kind of like a quarterfinal” – Wasim Akram on the significance of CSK-RCB IPL 2024 match
Wasim Akram further lauded RCB for their fighting display of character against five-time champions CSK for a place in the top four of IPL 2024. He rated it amongst the best games in IPL’s history.
Akram said:
"It was virtually kind of like a quarterfinal. Ise kehte hain jab kismat ki devi meharbaan ho, jab apko apnea ap mein belief ho team pe. (When fortune favors you and you have self-belief, then you tend to achieve the impossible)."
The 57-year-old continued:
"Even I had said that qualifying is not only tough but impossible. They have proved everyone wrong. It’s an incredible story for RCB. That game will be written in the history of IPL."
“We thought CSK would easily enter into the top 4 and it’ll be a fairytale ending for MS Dhoni. But again, uparwale ne kuch mana hua tha, kuch aur likha hua tha. Uparwala bhi unki help karta hai to khud ki help karte hain. (However, the almighty had written something else. Even God helps those who help themselves). There is a lesson to be learned from this RCB qualification. Luck favors the brave, never lose hope.”
Faf du Plessis and Co. will next play against Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2024’s Eliminator at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 22.