Sehwag takes a swipe at Glenn Maxwell – and every other foreign player in the IPL

PL on the mounting criticism of the mercurial Maxi

Nine opportunities slipped through fielders’ hands in the fumble fest between the IPL’s Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings earlier this month, and there should have been another when Glenn Maxwell smashed his second delivery hard and fast back at Ravi Ashwin, but the ball bobbled up out of bowler’s large hands before surrendering itself to his care.

That’s not to say that Maxwell’s misfortunes have all been bad luck - or good fielding. The extraordinary Australian was bowled around his legs by a slow full toss in the following match and then fooled by a wrong ‘un in the game where selectors finally lost faith and decided the gig was up.

Coach Ricky Ponting would have delivered more difficult messages in his time. Maxwell, who had kicked off IPL 2025 with a golden duck, had made double figures just once in six innings.

This follows a similarly miserable 2024 for the Royals where he was going so bad (52 in 10 matches) he essentially dropped himself mid-season.

Maxwell said at the time that he knew from past experience that to keep going was to dig himself into an even deeper hole, but this year his old sparring partner Virender Sehwag has done his best to ensure the Australian remains buried.

Both Maxwell and another high-priced import, Liam Livingstone, were absent – dropped by their respective sides – from the clash between PBKS and RCB and both came in for some scathing treatment from the former opener known as Viru.

"I feel like Maxwell and Livingstone’s hunger is gone. Yeh yaha holiday manane aate hai, holiday banaakar chale jaate hain. (they just come here for a holiday). They arrive, have their fun, and leave. There's no visible desire to fight for the team," Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.