Glenn Maxwell issues an official statement on when he will return to RCB!!

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Glenn Maxwell addressed his absence from the lineup against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2024. Glenn Maxwell disclosed that he requested a break from captain Faf du Plessis and the team management before the match.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru has faced significant challenges in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. The RCB team suffered a 25-run loss against the Hyderabad-based franchise in a high-scoring encounter at their home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, on Monday, April 15.

It Was A Pretty Easy Decision - Glenn Maxwell

Speaking after the RCB-SRH match, Glenn Maxwell revealed that his decision to take a break was straightforward to avoid further decline in form. Maxwell emphasized the importance of mental and physical rejuvenation to make an impact later in the tournament.

"For me, personally, it was a pretty easy decision. I went to Faf [du Plessis] and the coaches after the last game and said I felt it was probably time we tried someone else. I have been in this situation in the past where you can keep playing and get yourself deeper into a hole."

"I think now is actually a good time for me to give myself a bit of a mental and physical break, get my body right. If I'm required to get in during the tournament, I can hopefully get back into a really solid mental and physical space where I can still have an impact," Maxwell said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The 35-year-old has struggled to find form in the IPL 2024 despite his recent success in Australian limited-overs cricket. Maxwell has scored just 32 runs in six innings at a dismal average of 5.33 and a strike rate of 94.11. The all-rounder recorded scores of 0, 3, 28, 0, 1, and 0.

RCB's decision to rest Maxwell failed to alter their fate, as they endured a fifth consecutive defeat. Furthermore, RCB's bowling endured a humbling experience, conceding the highest-ever IPL total, with SRH reaching 287/3 in 20 overs. RCB managed 262 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

Felt Like I Wasn't Contributing In A Positive Way - Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell acknowledged his batting struggles and the team's standing in the rankings. He expressed the need to offer another player the chance to showcase their abilities and cement a place in the lineup.

"We have had a pretty big deficiency straight after the powerplay, which has been my area of strength over the last couple of seasons. I felt like I wasn't contributing in a positive way with the bat, and with the results and the position we find ourselves on the table, I think it's a good time to give someone else an opportunity to show their wares, and hopefully, someone can make that spot their own," Maxwell added.

The Faf du Plessis-led team has only secured one victory out of seven matches in the tournament. The Bengaluru-based team currently sits at the bottom of the table. They will next face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, April 21.

Also read: "Me and Maxwell always laugh about it.."- Pat Cummins' fiery warning to Virat Kohli's RCB