Glenn Maxwell, the Australian all-rounder, is facing a challenging run in IPL 2025, with a series of low scores that have raised concerns about his form. After a promising lead-up to the tournament, Maxwell has struggled to find his rhythm, starting the season for Punjab Kings (PBKS) with a golden duck against Gujarat Titans. Despite entering the IPL on the back of strong performances in the Big Bash League (BBL) and his previous IPL outings, Maxwell has managed just 8.20 runs per innings after five matches this season.
Maxwell’s difficulties seem to be largely with spin, having fallen to spinners in four of his five dismissals. This is in stark contrast to his days with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where he was known for his ability to dominate spin bowling. From 2021 to 2023, he was one of the most destructive players in the tournament, averaging 52.8 and striking at nearly 155. However, his form has dipped significantly, with his average against spin plummeting to just 4.87 since last year.
Former RCB batting coach Sanjay Bangar weighed in on Maxwell’s struggles, suggesting that the change in Maxwell’s role at PBKS could be contributing to his inconsistent performances. “He’s batting lower down the order now, and with PBKS looking at him as a primary overseas batter, there’s added pressure,” Bangar said. “At RCB, he wasn’t the main guy, and that gave him the freedom to perform without the expectation of being the miracle man.”
Maxwell’s spin woes appear to be India-specific, with the all-rounder struggling more against spin bowling in the IPL than in other competitions. In his IPL career, he has faced spin bowlers 13 times while playing attacking shots, falling six times during those attempts.
RCB, who will face PBKS in the upcoming match, have three spinners—Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, and Suyash Sharma—at their disposal to target Maxwell. Livingstone hasn’t bowled to Maxwell in the IPL, but Krunal Pandya has dismissed Maxwell three times, with the Australian’s strike rate against him dropping to just 120.
Despite his struggles, PBKS has continued to back Maxwell, with the franchise even benching Marcus Stoinis to make space for Josh Inglis in the previous game. Maxwell has contributed with the ball as well, taking four wickets at an economy rate of 8.46 in six innings, including bowling in the powerplay.
Maxwell’s teammate from 2014, Cheteshwar Pujara, has also been critical of his approach. Pujara attributed Maxwell’s poor form to over-attacking, suggesting that he has become “casual” in his batting approach. “There have been times where he’s been a little casual. He needs to wake up and realise the opportunity he’s getting to play in this IPL,” said Pujara. “When you’re not performing, you have to find the balance between being casual and pulling up your socks to perform.”
Now, Maxwell returns to the venue where he has had some of his best IPL performances—Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Australian has a strike rate of 171 across 18 IPL innings at the ground, including an unbeaten 113 off 55 balls for Australia in a T20I back in 2019. With his form under scrutiny, Maxwell will be hoping that the familiar surroundings help him turn things around when PBKS faces RCB on Friday night.
The big question remains: will PBKS stick with Maxwell and give him the opportunity to bounce back, or will his struggles lead to a change in the lineup? Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if Maxwell can rediscover the form that made him one of the most feared batters in T20 cricket.