Punjab maximum utilizing Maxwell

Glen Maxwell from Australia was talk of the town and real hot property in the IPL 6 as the world had seen him play some mind blowing innings for his home team. He was then bid and picked by the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2013 at a whopping $ 1m. MI the star studded team they are rarely, rather never actually used this $1m asset of theirs. Come IPL 7 and the form Maxwell carried through the World T20 for Australia was expected to be sold heavy this time as well. It was the Kings XI team from Punjab who won him this time for a contract almost 6 times his base price and are making maximum utilization of Maxwell.

Punjab literally changed their entire unit which looks a more balanced and a winning combination for them which they missed for the past 6 seasons. The entry of Maxwell, Bailey, Miller, Jhonson is the shot in their arm and given them the confidence of making an impact.

The season opener for them and they were up against the mighty Chennai Super Kings, Dhoni won the toss and batting 1st CSK posted 205 runs for KXIP to chase. The match looked dodgy unless Maxwell walked in and blew apart the CSK bowling. The slower bowlers who are CSK’s strength were deposited into the stands and kept out of the game.

In that match winning knock Maxie hit 15 4’s and 2 sixes to score 95 runs of just 43 balls falling 5 short of a well deserved and which could have been the first in the season hundred. But it was not him alone David Miller the to go guy for the KXIP complimented it and bettered by finishing the match with a 54* and they chased down 205 quite comfortably with 6 wickets in hand.

The next time they were out were chasing again against the double R’s the team which had never lost defending something above 190 and KXIP had 192 to chase. Two early blows and Maxwell was on the field quickly to take guard and win the fortress. Taking it from where he had left last time he continued to play his shots and rip apart the Rajasthan Royals bowling this time before getting out on 89.

The job was not done yet and KXIP needed one more heavy push to land on the winning side and they had Miller to do it this time as well. Finishing with a 51* he not only scored quick but compensated for the slow innings Pujara was playing at the other end who stayed unbeaten at 40.

What Maxwell and Miller have done is given KXIP and IPL an all new hope of making it count this time with some real breath taking action and improvised hitting along with majestic timing a treat to watch even if you are not a Preeti Zinta fan.