'IPL form is absolutely irrelevant' - Usman Khawaja backs Glenn Maxwell to come good at T20 World Cup 2024

Cricketers experience bad phases, periodic poor patches, and occasionally their worst-ever periods, engulfed in darkness. Glenn Maxwell's recent IPL season epitomizes the final type, marking his lowest in 13 years while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, his franchise since 2021. Maxwell's aggressive batting style faltered as he averaged just 5.78 in nine innings for RCB, hitting only six boundaries - four in a single 28-run knock against the Kolkata Knight Riders. His most glaring statistic was being out for a duck four times. 

The 37-year-old Australian veteran, Usman Khawaja, who has shared the field with Maxwell in 45 matches, defended him amid the severe trolling and criticism during IPL 2024. Many pundits and commentators questioned Maxwell's spot in the 15-member T20 World Cup 2024 squad, focusing on his inability to justify his high price tag over recent seasons.

Khawaja stated that for players of Maxwell's stature, IPL form becomes irrelevant as they have repeatedly proven themselves. He pointed out the well-known fact about consistency, stressing that even the most experienced players can't always perform at their peak.

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“The IPL form is absolutely irrelevant. Maxy’s proven himself time and time again. Any player who’s performed over a long period of time understands that you can’t perform well every time you go out there," Khawaja told The West Australian.

It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past: Khawaja

Pointing out the high-risk nature of Maxwell's batting and the difficulties of middle-order play, Khawaja remarked that early dismissals are to be expected and are a part and parcel of the game. He argued against the harsh criticism of Maxwell for his IPL 2024 outings.

Underscoring the importance of momentum in a high-profile tournament such as the T20 World Cup, Khawaja believed Maxwell would find his form with a single good innings under his belt. He urged Maxwell to stick to his natural playing style, confident that he would stick with how he normally goes about his business and was confident that he'd ultimately perform well for the nation.

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"You take a few risks, particularly if you bat in the middle-order, and T20 cricket’s not easy. But (for this tournament), if he gets one good innings, he’s away. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past. He’s not going to change his game, and nor should he. Just keep going. He’ll find it," the seasoned campaigner added.