'I get along with Virat pretty well' - Glenn Maxwell wants to join the RCB side ahead of IPL 2021 Auction

In just a couple of days (18th February 2021), the much-awaited IPL auctions will take place in Chennai. All the franchises will be looking to solidify their squads and strengthen them, ahead of the 14th edition of the IPL. Before the IPL 2021 season, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) have decided to release the big-hitting Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

Maxwell was in horrible form in the 13th IPL edition and could aggregate only 108 runs in the 11 innings that he played at an average of 15.43. His strike rate too, was extremely low, at 101.89. Even with the ball, Glenn Maxwell could not set the stage on fire.

The off-spinner took just 3 wickets in the whole tournament and averaged 56.33. He also gave away runs at an economy rate of 8.05. And, after such poor returns, the Punjab Kings side has decided to let go of the all-rounder ahead of the IPL auctions.

Glenn Maxwell keen to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

However, the Australian has opened up and revealed that he would like to play for RCB in the upcoming edition. Maxwell said that he gets along with RCB skipper Virat Kohli very well, and added that it would be really nice to work with Kohli. Maxwell further opined that he enjoys batting with Kohli, and said that the Indian skipper has been very helpful to him. Maxwell concluded by stating that it would be cool to work with Kohli for the upcoming edition of the IPL.

“I get along with Virat pretty well. It’ll be certainly nice to work under Virat and will certainly enjoy batting with him – that’s for sure. It will be awesome to work with him, and he’s always been really helpful to me along the journey. Whenever I’ve caught up with him, he’s been brilliant. So to be able to work with him first hand will be pretty cool,” said Maxwell as reported by India Today.

However, it is important to note that since the 13th IPL edition in the UAE, Maxwell has returned back to his old self with the willow. In the ODI series against India that followed the IPL, Maxwell blasted 167 runs at an average of 83.50 and a strike rate of 194.19. Even in the third T20I against the ‘Men in Blue’, the Australian scored a 36-ball 54.

With Maxwell back amongst the runs, it would be interesting to see if the franchises once again show a keen interest in him in the upcoming IPL auctions on 18th February 2021.