AUS Vs NZ: Glenn Maxwell's 40-Ball Hundred Leaves Sunil Gavaskar In Disbelief, He Says "I Took 40 Balls To Get Off The Mark"

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar couldn’t contain his admiration for Glenn Maxwell’s scintillating performance in the ICC World Cup 2023 match against the Netherlands at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Maxwell’s explosive innings, characterized by a record-breaking century, left Gavaskar electrified.

Glenn Maxwell’s entrance into the game was nothing short of sensational. He walked to the crease in the 40th over of the Australian innings and proceeded to dismantle the Dutch bowling attack. In a mere 44 deliveries, he amassed a remarkable 106 runs, featuring nine boundaries and eight towering sixes.

In doing so, Maxwell broke the previous record held by South Africa’s Aiden Markram, who had achieved a century in 49 balls against Sri Lanka at the same venue earlier in this tournament. Gavaskar, while speaking with Star Sports during the innings break, was full of praise for Maxwell’s breathtaking performance.

Sunil Gavaskar’s Stunning Reaction To Glenn Maxwell’s Innings.

Sunil Gavaskar’s excitement was evident as he marveled at Maxwell’s prowess. “This one (reverse hit) has got to be one of the greatest cricketing shots. It’s gone for six. It should be a 12. The bowling after that got a bit rattled because they just didn’t know where to bowl. It was an incredible effort. He had an average of 12, to score the runs that he did and at the rate at which he did. It was amazing,” Gavaskar expressed.

Gavaskar’s astonishment continued as he drew a comparison to his own experiences as a cricketer. “I took 40 balls to get off the mark. He has scored a hundred in 40 balls, amazing, amazing,” he added.

Glenn Maxwell’s blazing form came as a welcome turnaround after a relatively lean period in the tournament. Before this explosive innings, he had managed just 49 runs in the first four matches for Australia. However, against the Netherlands, Maxwell was in complete control, unleashing a barrage of aggressive strokes and dominating the V area with his blistering shots.

Glenn Maxwell’s extraordinary century left not just Sunil Gavaskar but cricket enthusiasts worldwide in awe, underlining his remarkable ability to single-handedly turn a match around with his explosive batting prowess. With this win, Australia retains their number four spot in the points table. They will now face their trans-Tasmanian rivals New Zealand on Saturday in Dharamsala.