Royal Challengers Bangalore’s star batsman Glenn Maxwell’s struggles with the bat continued in the crucial IPL 2024 Eliminator clash against Rajasthan Royals on May 22nd. Maxwell’s woes deepened as he was dismissed for a golden duck by Rajasthan Royals’ ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin outsmarted Maxwell with a well-disguised carrom ball. Maxwell, desperate for a big knock, went for a big shot early in his innings without even getting his eye in, resulting in a mistimed slog that was easily pouched by Dhruv Jurel at long-on.
This dismissal marked a new low for Maxwell in the ongoing season. Here’s a breakdown of his struggles:
- Record-Breaking Duck Tally: The dismissal against the Royals was Maxwell’s fifth duck of IPL 2024, etching his name in the record books for the most ducks recorded by a batsman in a single IPL season.
- A Season of Disappointment: This dismissal summed up Maxwell’s entire season. He has managed a mere 52 runs from his 10 outings, averaging a meagre 5.78 and striking at a below-par 120.93. His scores paint a grim picture: 0, 16, 4, 0, 1, 0, 28, 3, and 0.
- Mid-Season Break Fails to Spark Revival: In an attempt to regain form, Maxwell even took a mental break midway through the season, but it failed to yield any significant improvement. His return to the crease did little to change his fortunes.
- Second-Worst Average for Top-Six Batsman: Maxwell’s average of 5.78 is the second-worst for a player batting in the top six in an IPL season, only behind Devdutt Padikkal’s dismal 5.42 for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024.
Maxwell’s struggles are a significant concern for RCB, who were heavily reliant on his explosive batting in the middle order. While they did manage to win their last six matches and secure a playoff berth, his lack of runs has certainly been a worry.
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