Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has brushed off criticism from former India opener Virender Sehwag, saying he’ll take it with a grain of salt.
Sehwag described Maxwell as a “ten crore cheerleader” on a “highly paid vacation” following the Australian’s recent struggles with the bat in the IPL.
Maxwell, who was on a $2.2 million contract with Kings XI Punjab, averaged just 15.42 at a strike rate of 101.88 across 13 matches.
He also failed to hit a single six for the first time in his eight-season IPL career.
Maxwell has copped plenty of criticism from Sehwag in the past, and he was quick to dismiss the Indian’s latest dig.
“It’s okay. Viri is pretty outspoken with his dislike of me, and that’s fine. He’s allowed to say whatever he likes,” Maxwell said.
“He’s in the media for such statements, so that’s fine. I deal with that and move on, and take it with a grain of salt with Sehwag.”
Maxwell said the mental health break he took at the end of last year had helped him deal with his recent form slump and general life struggles that 2020 has presented.
“I think I’m better equipped with dealing with those sorts of things now,” Maxwell said.
(Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
“I think in hindsight it was a pretty good time to go through something like that where I was able to put some groundwork in to deal with adversity. This year has certainly been a massive test of it.
“To be able to help people through different times of tough periods and be able to help myself through those tough periods has been really key as well.”
As for his failure to hit a six at the IPL this year?
“I was an inch short in one of the games,” he said with a laugh.
“All I thought was, ‘Geez I should have gone to the gym a few more times before this game’.
“Having won the most sixes twice in that tournament, it’s pretty rare to go through a whole tournament without hitting one.
“I certainly copped a bit from a few of my teammates, but it was all in good jest.”
Maxwell has taken time to relax and refresh since arriving back from the IPL in a Sydney hub, saying he probably over-trained while in the UAE.
The 32-year-old will be a key figure for the upcoming three-match ODI and T20 series against India, which kicks off in Sydney next Friday.
Cricket Australia expects five of those six matches to be sellouts, albeit with grounds at half capacity.
Maxwell’s most recent innings for Australia was a memorable one, plundering 108 off 90 balls to lead his side to a thrilling three-wicket ODI victory over England in September.
© AAP
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