One doesn’t understand PBKS’ obsession with Glenn Maxwell, plenty of options available

You leave out Azmatullah Omarzai from the team, and then you pick Glenn Maxwell over him. What does the latter do? Score 48 runs in 7 matches at an average of 8 in IPL 2025. Every time the hard-hitting Aussie is at the crease, it is almost given, that he will fall prey to a spinner. At least that has been the case 9 times, in the last 10 innings. And yet, somehow, PBKS doesn’t want to pick a player ahead of Maxwell.

Biggest Flop of IPL 2025, Glenn Maxwell?

Virender Sehwag had spoken on Cricbuzz, “They come to India to spend their holidays (Maxwell & Liam Livingstone).” And that could just be true. He has been in no form whatsoever. After scoring 52 runs in 10 matches last IPL, averaging only 5, for some strange reason, he was bought at the IPL Auction for INR 4.2 Cr, and the team and coach Ricky Ponting seems to be hell bent on justifying the move. But the ploy isn’t working.

Despite starting off brilliantly in IPL 2025, the team has won 5 out of 9, and find themselves in the fifth position in the points table. Now perhaps, the time has come to get rid of the weak link. Omarzai, for that matter, is one of the best all-rounders in white-ball cricket, and could be given a longer rope.

PBKS Have Plenty of Options

He has played two matches this year, and scored 16 runs, but could be a game-changer for them. Then there is Marcus Stoinis too. He has played 7 matches though, and been ineffective, but not as bad as Maxwell. The Aussie has 67 runs in 7 matches, at an average of 16, and had an excellent season with LSG last year, where he scored a ton and two fifties.

If Shreyas Iyer, the skipper does not want to exercise that option, there is an Indian player waiting in the wings — Suryash Shedge. HE is a powerful lad, and can send the ball into the stands, with his brute force. Although in 4 matches, he has only 4 runs, but then what instills belief in him is — he scored 131 runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, at a strike-rate of 251, and an average of 43.

But then, PBKS should be prepared to look beyond Glenn Maxwell.