Glenn Maxwell played an outstanding inning of 59 runs from just 29 balls against the LSG at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Monday (April 10). Despite his heroics, Royal Challengers Bangalore narrowly lost the match, as Nicholas Pooran hit an incredible 62 off just 19 balls, and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis secured a crucial 65 off 30 balls for LSG. Maxwell has been incredibly consistent for RCB. He has scored 890 runs in 31 matches with an average of 35.60 and a strike rate of 155.32 while taking nine wickets in 41 overs at an economy rate of 7.71.
Let’s look at 3 reasons why he could be the MVP of RCB this season:
1) One of the best spin hitters in T20s
The Royal Challengers Bangalore made a bold move by investing ₹14.25 crores to sign Glenn Maxwell ahead of the 2021 IPL season, considering his poor form in the last tournament for the Punjab Kings. But the team knew exactly what role they wanted him to play. Maxwell’s ability to score quickly against spin bowling made him an invaluable asset for RCB; since joining the franchise, he has scored 546 runs at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 142 in the middle overs. His presence in the middle overs also allows the opening duo of Kohli and du Plessis to play freely in the powerplay.
2) Impressive record in death overs
Top-tier T20 batters, particularly those that hold the anchor position, can accelerate and quickly reach an impressive score in the closing overs of the match. RCB possesses a world-class finisher in Dinesh Karthik, enabling them to demolish the opposition attack, especially when either Virat Kohli or Faf du Plessis is well set.
Furthermore, Glen Maxwell has been in impressive form in the match’s final stages, having scored 223 runs off 111 balls with an average of 25 in the last four overs of the game in the past three seasons. This is generally seen as a net positive score for any side on match day.
3) A strong part-time bowling option
RCB have had difficulty containing runs in the bowling department this season. They have dismissed the top order relatively cheaply in all three matches yet have still failed to prevent opposing teams from recovering. The addition of Hasaranga and Josh Hazlewood will bolster their attack significantly, allowing Faf du Plessis to draw a few overs out of Maxwell in the powerplay. Maxwell bowled 13 overs for RCB in that phase and took three wickets at an impressive economy rate of only 7.36. Additionally, he can prove useful in the middle if there is a favorable matchup – RCB could use him to break up partnerships and contain runs, as they have particularly struggled in the middle and death overs.
