'Wake Up Or Else..'- Glenn Maxwell passed on strict message before RCB vs PBKS

Star India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has made a bold statement on Punjab Kings (PBKS) all-rounder Glenn Maxwell's underwhelming form in the IPL 2025. The veteran cricketer criticized Maxwell for appearing too casual in his approach, adding that he must perform before being dropped from the lineup.

Glenn Maxwell was acquired by Punjab Kings for ₹4.2 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, the all-rounder has scored just 41 runs in five innings at a poor average of 8.20, including a golden duck in their season opener. With the ball, he has taken four wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 8.46.

Glenn Maxwell Has Been a Little Casual - Cheteshwar Pujara

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Cheteshwar Pujara said that Glenn Maxwell hasn’t evolved over the years and still appears too casual, just as he was a decade ago. Pujara added that Glenn Maxwell must show more hunger and responsibility.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

“He hasn’t changed the way he has approached the IPL. There have been times when he’s been a little casual. He’s the same as he was, maybe eight to ten years ago. I’m a little critical, but there are times when, as a player, you need to wake up," Pujara said while speaking on ESPNCricinfo.

“You need to realise you’re getting an opportunity to play and be part of a franchise where things are at stake. And there are times a player can get casual, they’re not worried about what’s happening," he added.

"I'm sure he wants to perform but when you're not performing there's a fine line of being causal and just trying to pull up your socks and trying to perform."

Maxwell also had a disappointing season in 2024. He scored only 52 runs in nine matches at an average of 5.77. Maxwell also picked up six wickets in as many bowling innings.

Also read: "Would frustrate me as coach...": Glenn Maxwell blasted as his axing from PBKS XI demanded

He Was Happy to Spend Some Time in the Middle - Sanjay Bangar

Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar backed Glenn Maxwell to continue the approach he used in his recent innings, where he took the time to settle before playing big shots. Bangar pointed out that Maxwell had tried to attack from the very first ball earlier in the season.

"For the first two-three games, we saw a different Maxwell, he was trying to take the bowling on from ball one. In the last two innings, he was happy to spend some time in the middle. If he'd started with this approach, the pressure wouldn't have been so much," Bangar said.

Punjab Kings to Face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18

Punjab Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their next match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, April 18.

Glenn Maxwell and Yuzvendra Chahal are both familiar with Bangalore's conditions from their time at RCB. Notably, RCB's batters struggled against slow bowlers like R Sai Kishore, Kuldeep Yadav, and Vipraj Nigam, who found success in the middle overs in Bengaluru.

Chahal recently regained form with a four-wicket haul against Kolkata Knight Riders. Both he and Glenn Maxwell will bring valuable knowledge of Bengaluru's conditions when they take the field for their next match. Maxwell’s batting struggles are unlikely to impact his place in the playing XI.

Also read: RCB Playing 11 vs Punjab Kings- IPL 2025, Match 34