Glenn Maxwell’s career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a tale of extremes: He saddles us with extraordinary peaks and frustrating lows, from the rocky times at Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) to the latter’s resurgence with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

In his book The Showman, Maxwell gives us an honest view into his IPL journey from the management angle, emotional lows, life-changing moments, and his eventual rebirth under the guidance of Virat Kohli at RCB.

A Promising Start with Kings XI Punjab

He burst onto the IPL scene in 2014 during an explosive season for Kings XI Punjab. Maxwell amassed 552 runs, hit sixes as he pleased, and was ultimately the player of the tournament. 

For Punjab, though, it was an incredible run to the finals, though their dreams were ultimately cut short after a loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Given Punjab’s near miss at the trophy and the big show’s performance, the Aussie could not have been more confident that the franchise was being built around him.

As he admitted in his book, his form has been streaky, though. When you are in the hole, you know you can break free; it takes time; when you’re on a roll, you cannot stop. But this rhythm of highs and lows soon came to inform much of what would follow, and it was not until later that Maxwell could anticipate the internal problems in the Punjab franchise.

Clashing with Sehwag

With Maxwell handed the Kings XI Punjab captaincy last year, it came with complications. Maxwell, who played for Virender Sehwag, the retired cricketer and former teammate who had morphed into a so-called ‘mentor’ to the team, had more than expected influence. 

He, meanwhile, declared that Sehwag was a dominant figure in the changing room, often sidelining head coach J Arunkumar and making independent decisions, which left both players and the coaching staff perplexed.

Because he believed he was on the same page with Sehwag in his vision for the team, this created tension. He also attempted to bring order to things by creating a WhatsApp group to lead selection discussions and improve coach and mentor communication. However, Sehwag dismissed the group, electing to unilaterally decide the playing XI and frustrating Maxwell as a result.

What he has to say about Ishant Sharma and others in the team and the trials and tribulations of a rookie Indian captain are all marred by a complete lack of transparency. Ishant had been out of the reckoning for a while, but he replied that he was prepared to play a game of cricket in Mumbai even if he had been told he wasn’t picked. 

Ishant eventually played after the team underwent last-minute changes from the lineup it had initially planned for. Maxwell implies this lack of cohesion began to affect the team’s morale and – as the season wore on – performance.

The Final Blow

Punjab’s last group game was a make-or-break encounter as the season drew to its close. Unfortunately, the team leaked from a threat to 73. After the loss, Sehwag blasted Maxwell in a press conference, branding the Aussie as a ‘big disappointment’ and also blaming him for not fulfilling his duties as captain. Maxwell’s critique was blind-sighted as the volunteer who was supposed to handle media duties had let Sehwag take over and bite back personally.

Sehwag’s response to Maxwell was dismissive: “Don’t need a fan like you.” A personal low point for the cricketer came when the franchise, Punjab, decided to sever their relationship with Maxwell.

The player opted to leave Punjab provided that his fellow countryman, Sehwag, also stayed as part of what was clearly a team feud. Maxwell hung around for one more season before leaving, and the toll of that experience lasted.

Struggles and Humbling in 2020

Having not played since 2018, Maxwell returned to Kings XI Punjab this year, hoping for a new start. It was, however, a horrendous season. The tournament was beset by Maxwell failing to hit a single six all tournament long, and he became a target for jokes and criticism on social media. Yet he could not get his groove, and his confidence took another hit.

After the tournament was over, Maxwell was added to Australia’s team for the India series, and his form came back immediately after he smacked three sixes in quick succession in a match. Maxwell, rather tongue in cheek, referred to the bewildered look on the face of KL Rahul, then Kings XI captain and India wicket keeper, when he saw Maxwell’s shot selection come good. But the disparity only made Maxwell fume at his own IPL struggles, which have grown into a heavy burden.

The Turning Point with RCB

The pivotal change came in 2021 when Virat Kohli invited Maxwell to join Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The opportunity to play alongside Kohli and AB de Villiers excited Maxwell immensely. “I was in love with this before he finished his sentence,” Maxwell wrote, describing the appeal of joining a middle order featuring two of his generation’s greats. Kohli’s enthusiasm and faith in him was exactly what Maxwell needed to reignite his passion for the game.

Maxwell’s time at RCB has been a case of renewal and growth rather than a replication of how he is perceived to play. But it was under Kohli as his leader that Maxwell suddenly felt that sense of camaraderie and stability to thrive.

The shift brought him to the platform where he could perform in the best of his style, a ‘second act’ in his career. Maxwell got to use his talents on a platform where the drama and dysfunction of his previous experience (with Punjab) wouldn’t encroach.

Legacy and Reflection

Maxwell’s IPL journey is proof of the incredible influence that the team and the way you are handled have on a player’s game and mental well-being. It’s the story of resilience and how he found himself again, stepping up from his dizzying highs in the early part of his career to lower points as Sehwag bluntly pronounced him blind, but bouncing back to make himself and RCB relevant again.

‘This is his second IPL stint, and he found it tough during his first stint with Kings XI Punjab, but it was a learning period about what he needs to be successful and how important it is to look for a culture where the team wants to work together and speak openly amongst themselves.’

He was able to tap into his ability thanks to the support of Kohli and a more stable environment and was a reminder to fans why he is called The Showman. He has returned to his best at RCB and has played some of the most important innings of his career.