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Follow UsAustralian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is set to feature for his fourth Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise - Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) - in the forthcoming edition of the lucrative T20 league, but the reason for that according to Gautam Gambhir, is his inconsistency. Having represented Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Maxwell was acquired by RCB for a massive amount of 14.25 crore.
"Had Maxwell done really well in the IPL, he wouldn't have played for so many franchises, to be honest. He's played for so many franchises because he's not been consistent at all. We can't keep talking about 'he hasn't had the freedom' for the previous franchises he's played for… when he played for Delhi, he had a lot of freedom," Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo.
"Most of these franchises and coaches - because they think he's an X-factor - they want to try and provide him with the best platform where he can succeed. The most unfortunate thing is that despite getting that platform, he has not succeeded, apart from that one season in 2014 where he set the IPL on fire. Had he done that, I think none of the franchises would have released him. Look at what Andre Russell has done for KKR and the amount of time he's spent at one franchise.
"The only reason why a franchise releases you is because you haven't performed. The more franchises you play for, it just shows you haven't really been able to get settled in any of the franchises. Hopefully, he delivers this time around because every year, he keeps getting more and more money just because he does really well for Australia.
"So hopefully from RCB's point of view, he can do really well. He's probably got freedom more than any other player in the IPL. I feel he has been very disappointing throughout the IPL, but hopefully, this time around he can turn it."
Having scored 1505 runs in 82 IPL encounters, Maxwell has an average of just 22.13. More than 1/3rd of those runs came in the 2014 season where he amassed 552 runs at a strike rate of 187.8. He has struggled in IPL but has pretty decent numbers in the Big Bash League, playing for Melbourne Stars. The dynamic right-hander has slammed 2081 runs at an average of 33.56 and a strike rate of 150.5 for the franchise, but hasn't been able to stamp his authority in IPL.
Former RCB player and head coach Daniel Vettori believes that the presence of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers will work to Maxwell's advantage.
"The emphasis normally is on AB and Kohli, and Maxwell in a way can fly under the radar. Hopefully that lack of pressure will allow him to have an IPL that everyone expects him to most years," said Vettori.
"Where he's been successful, particularly at Melbourne Stars, he's been engaged, he's been captain and he's been the senior player. He's been given a lot of responsibility and I think that's where teams tend to get the best out of him. Even though de Villiers and Kohli are the focal points, if they can spread that leadership across him, I think that will be the best way to utilise him."
Now that Kohli will open for RCB, Gambhir said it would be ideal to bat de Villiers and Maxwell at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively.
"I've been saying it, RCB needs to do something different. So they've got to push AB at No.3 and Maxwell at No.4. And they've got Padikkal and Virat Kohli, and now you've got the option of Kyle Jamieson and Daniel Sams. So you don't need to actually have Maxwell as a finisher because Daniel Sams can hit a long ball, Kyle Jamieson can hit a long ball, you've got Washington Sundar who can bowl and bat," said Gambhir.
"So rather make them [de Villiers and Maxwell] bat at No. 3 and 4 and that's going to be a good combination. What happens is, your top four becomes really, really strong. With this kind of combination, I will try and take that punt and probably make them bat at three and four together."