Will RCB Retain Glenn Maxwell or AB de Villiers in IPL 2022 Auctions? Asks Ajay Jadeja

Former Indian batsman Ajay Jadeja put Royal Challengers Bangalore in a puzzle to retain between Glenn Maxwell or AB de Villiers next season.

Maxwell, who was bought by RCB for a whopping price of INR 14.25 crore in IPL 2021 auctions, has been phenomenal with both bat and the ball for the Bold Army.

Glenn Maxwell has benefitted from the presence of foreign coaches at IPL auctions: Ajay Jadeja

Despite having a poor show with Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in IPL 2020 in UAE where he could only make 108 runs from 13 matches at an average of 15.42.

But things are totally different since he moved to RCB, as the swashbuckling all-rounder has scored 350 runs from 10 innings and has also been effective with the bowl while chipping in some important breakthroughs.

Jadeja asked the franchise whether they would choose Maxwell of de Villiers in the team’s squad next season as the IPL 2022 mega auction will allow a team to retain only three players.

“Plenty of people have invested money and time on Glenn Maxwell. If you ask them, then they will tell you that he isn’t value for money. But for RCB, he has proved to be a multi banner. He has done things for them which he didn’t do for his previous franchises,” Jadeja said on Cricbuzz. 

“But at auction, I feel that Maxwell has benefitted from the presence of foreign coaches. RCB has backed him and he has given them more dividends than they would have expected. Now they won’t be able to let go of his services. So, the question is, will they retain him or AB de Villiers?” he added. 

I feel this might be the last season for AB de Villiers: Ajay Jadeja

On the other hand, AB de Villiers has been a lynchpin of the RCB batting line-up over the years and is the only other player apart from skipper Virat Kohli to play for the franchise for more than a decade.

The South African batsman is struggling to score in the second leg of IPL 2021 in UAE as scores of 0,12, 11 and 4* since the tournament restarted. Jadeja feels that this would be the last season for de Villiers with RCB.

“If you talk about coaches, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hesson backed him at Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, and Punjab Kings. But I think, Maxwell got the cushion and confidence in the RCB set-up which is why he has performed brilliantly,” Jadeja said. 

“I think Maxwell’s form is a blessing in disguise for RCB as I feel this might be the last season for AB de Villiers,” he added.

De Villiers hit the winning runs against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday as RCB won by seven wickets to stay in the third position with 14 points.

Also Read: IPL 2021: This Is Just Not The AB de Villiers That He Is Used To Seeing, Affirms Kevin Pietersen