IPL 2019: Top 3 knocks by Glenn Maxwell in IPL history

The hard-hitting Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell became a household name in India with his epic batting performances for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2014. Maxwell first made news in the Indian Premier League when the Mumbai Indians bought him for 1 million USD in IPL 2013.

However, the Mukesh Ambani owned franchise released him the next year and Kings XI Punjab bought him in the 2014 IPL auction. Maxwell stayed with the Punjab franchise for 4 seasons before his first ever IPL franchise, Delhi Daredevils, recruited him again ahead of the 2018 IPL season.

The 2014 season was the game-changing year of Maxwell's cricket career as he won several matches single-handedly for KXIP that year. However, he failed to repeat his heroics in the succeeding seasons. This year, Maxwell has opted out of the IPL owing to the 2019 ICC World Cup.

In this article, we will have a look at the top 3 knocks by Glenn Maxwell in IPL history -

#3 68 (42) vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2016

Maxwell's big innings could not help KXIP win the match against the Knight Riders

In the 32nd match of the 2016 edition of IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders hosted the Kings XI Punjab at the Eden Gardens. KXIP skipper M Vijay won the toss and invited the home team to bat first.

Robin Uthappa’s 70 and Gautam Gambhir’s 54 helped the Knight Riders post 164 on the board. Chasing 165, Kings XI lost their top 3 batsmen early in the innings. However, Maxwell and Saha stabilised the innings to bring KXIP back in the match. Glenn Maxwell shifted gears and slaughtered the home side’s bowling attack.

The Aussie hit 6 fours and 4 sixes in his knock of 68 runs, but his efforts went in vain as KXIP lost the match by 7 runs.

#2 95 (43) vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2014

This was Maxwell's first match for Kings XI Punjab

2014 was the first time when the U.A.E hosted the Indian Premier League. In the 3rd match of that season, the Kings XI Punjab battled the Chennai Super Kings in what was Maxwell's debut match for KXIP. Chennai Super Kings posted a mammoth total of 205/4 on the board, thanks to half-centuries from DR Smith and Brendon McCullum.

Virender Sehwag and Cheteshwar Pujara opened the innings for Punjab, but both lost their wickets in the powerplay overs as Glenn Maxwell took over control of the innings then. Maxwell, along with David Miller, thrilled the fans in attendance with his big-hitting.

The Big Show played the lead role in this partnership as he smacked 15 fours and 2 sixes on his way to 95 in that innings. KXIP won the match by 6 wickets as Maxwell won the Man of the Match award.

#1 95 (43) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2014

Glenn Maxwell missed out on a well-deserved century

4 days after his impressive debut for Kings XI Punjab, Glenn Maxwell destroyed the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack at Sharjah. This time, Kings XI were batting first and Maxwell came out to bat at No. 3 in the 7th over of the innings.

The Aussie all-rounder showed no mercy to the Sunrisers bowling attack as he sent 9 deliveries out of the park that night. He also hit 5 boundaries in his blistering knock of 95 runs.

He had a strike rate of 220+ but he missed out on a well-deserved IPL hundred when Amit Mishra dismissed him in the 18th over of the innings.

Nevertheless, Punjab won that match quite comprehensively as Glenn Maxwell once again received the Man of the Match award.