IPL 2021: Glenn Maxwell Surprised Me More Than Anyone; He’s Nowhere Near Being The Big Show, Says Graeme Swann  

Former England cricketer Graeme Swann has said that Glenn Maxwell has surprised him a lot with his batting in IPL 2021. Swann lauded Maxwell for his batting show for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021 so far. During Royal Challengers Bangalore’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders, the right-handed batsman Maxwell smashed a 78-run-knock off 49 balls. This was his second consecutive half-century in IPL 2021.

Glenn Maxwell, who has been known as a lower-order batsman and finisher, is donning a different role for RCB in IPL 2021. RCB skipper Virat Kohli has elevated Maxwell’s batting position and he has been batting at no.4 so far. In his new role, he has been doing a great job, being able to pile up runs for the team in all three games.

Glenn Maxwell Surprised Me More Than Anyone: Graeme Swann

While speaking to Star Sports, former England spinner Graeme Swann said that Glenn Maxwell is feeling relaxed and he has played really good shots.

“He surprised me more than anyone. I thought it was a bonkers amount of money they spent on him in the auction. But they said ‘no, he has got the strike rate in the middle, we’re backing him’.

“Sanjay Bangar has been the batting coach the last two times he has been among the runs. I think he feels happy, he feels relaxed. He played really good shots. He’s got his reverse hit back,” Graeme Swann said.

Swann also said that Maxwell is not the Big Show anymore, and Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are giving him a lot of support.

“He’s not the big cheese anymore, the big mac, the Big Show… whatever you call him. He’s nowhere near being the Big Show.

“But he’s got Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in the team, and it really suits him, to be that third player who can just go out there and express himself, without having to carry the team. This suits him. He looks in a very good place, he looks very fit,” Graeme Swann further said.

In the match against KKR, Maxwell smashed 3 sixes and 9 boundaries for his knock of 78 runs. In the earlier game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he scored 59 runs off 41 balls. Prior to that, he scored 39 runs against Mumbai Indians. Glenn Maxwell is also the 2nd highest-run scorer in IPL 2021 so far.

Royal Challengers Bangalore have won all the three matches they played in IPL 2021 and hold the top spot in the points table with 6 points.