Just like every other year, Glenn Maxwell is back in the IPL Auction. Kings XI Punjab had bought him for a whopping 10.75 CR in the last year’s auction and after his poor performances he finds himself back in the 2021 IPL Auction. People thought that he might go unsold in this year’s auction after a dismal performance in IPL 2020 but with some great performances in the India-Australia series and in the BBL, there is a buzz about him before the auction.
There are a few teams who need an explosive middle-order batsman and Glenn Maxwell fits that role. Even though he hasn’t performed in the IPL since 2014, teams always go after him and he gets big bucks in the Auction. So, let’s have a look at the four teams who should target Glenn Maxwell in IPL 2021 Auction.
4. Delhi Capitals
Even though Glenn Maxwell didn’t have a great season for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2018, they were bidding for him in the last year’s auction but KXIP won the bidding war and got Glenn Maxwell in their squad. In the last season, Delhi Capitals struggled with the No.5 and No.6 spot as Shimron Hetmyer wasn’t in great form.
With Stoinis promoted to open, they would like to fill that gap and Glenn Maxwell can fill it. He has the backing of the DC coach Ricky Ponting but with a poor performance in IPL 2020, it would be interesting to see whether they got after him in this year’s auction.
3. Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings have only one overseas slot to fill and that is for an overseas explosive batsman. Shane Watson retired from the IPL after the last season and so they would need somebody to fill his shoes. Glenn Maxwell is not an opener but he can be the enforcer in the middle-overs.
CSK struggled with the middle-overs run-rate in the last season and Maxwell could be that guy who can take on the bowlers in those overs. He can hit the spinners effortlessly which could be crucial on those low scoring wickets in Chepauk. MS Dhoni likes to use part-time bowlers and Maxwell has the knack of picking up wickets. It wouldn’t be a surprise if CSK goes after Maxwell in this year’s auction.
2. Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals released their captain and middle-order batsman Steve Smith. RR needs to fill in that gap and Glenn Maxwell is the perfect guy for that role. RR has the likes of Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Ben Stokes and if you add a player like Glenn Maxwell in the mix then the batting looks really dangerous.
The ground size won’t matter to a player like Maxwell as he can clear any fence once he hits off the middle of the bat. Glenn Maxwell can bat anywhere in the order and so he would be a great buy for the Rajasthan Royals. They should look at this explosive Australian batsman to replace Steve Smith.
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore
If there is one team that needs an explosive middle-order batsman badly then it is the Royal Challengers Bangalore. RCB has released some big names and they don’t seem to have many batsmen apart from Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers. RCB desperately needs a middle-order batsman to support these two and Maxwell can do that.
The pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium might suit him and we might get to see the best of Glenn Maxwell in the IPL. Just imagine a batting line-up of Virat and ABD with Glenn Maxwell to follow. Any one of them can take the game away from the opposition and it would work in RCB’s favour. RCB has enough money to target a player like Glenn Maxwell in the upcoming IPL auction.
