Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli has heaped praise on Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, hailing him as a ‘freak.’ These remarks came in the wake of Maxwell’s extraordinary performance in the World Cup match against Afghanistan on Tuesday.
In pursuit of a target of 292 runs, the team that had clinched the World Cup five times found themselves in dire straits at 49/4 as Maxwell stepped onto the field. The Australian side swiftly slumped to 91/7, on the precipice of a potentially humiliating defeat. Nevertheless, Maxwell produced a match-winning performance that will be remembered for a lifetime, salvaging Australia from their dire situation.
In a physically constrained state, Maxwell exhibited exceptional hand-eye coordination throughout his innings. He finished unbeaten with 201 runs off 128 balls, an innings adorned with 21 boundaries and 10 sixes. Maxwell, in partnership with Pat Cummins, compiled an unbroken 203-run stand to guide Australia to victory with 21 balls to spare.
Glenn Maxwell‘s remarkable performance earned him widespread acclaim, including praise from Virat Kohli.
The renowned Indian batsman, who has shared the dressing room with Maxwell while representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, described the Victorian as a ‘freak.’
“Only you could do this. Freak,”
Virat Kohli wrote on his Instagram story.
This marks Maxwell’s second century in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Previously, he registered the fastest century in ODI World Cup history against the Netherlands, achieving the milestone in just 40 balls.
He currently stands as Australia’s leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 397 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 79.40 and a striking strike rate of 152.69.
While Maxwell’s performance was one of the finest ever witnessed in World Cups, it was not without its share of fortune. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman dropped a straightforward catch, and another delivery narrowly eluded Afghanistan’s skipper, Hasmatullah Shahidi. Additionally, an LBW decision was reversed following a successful review.
Addressing the post-match presentation, Maxwell expressed his pride in capitalizing on the opportunities.
“It would have been nice if it was a chanceless knock, but I had my chances. Making the most of it tonight is something I can be proud of,”
he remarked.
Next on the horizon, Maxwell will feature in Australia’s upcoming match against Bangladesh in their final group game, scheduled for Saturday in Pune.
