‘A player had just gotten out and you also slogged and got out’ – Aakash Chopra slams Glenn Maxwell’s poor show vs RR

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has been eliminated from the ongoing IPL 2024 season at the hands of Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator match on Wednesday evening at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The loss drew criticism from former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra regarding RCB’s use of Glenn Maxwell.

The Bengaluru-based franchise set RR 173 to win after being put in to bat first but RR chased down the target and won the game by four wickets with an over to spare.

Maxwell’s poor IPL form was a particular focus for Chopra. The Australian all-rounder was dismissed for a first-ball duck, trying to hit Ravichandran Ashwin to the longest boundary after Cameron Green’s dismissal off the previous delivery.

“Glenn Maxwell – what do you do Sir? Honestly speaking, I think he doesn’t even have 70-80 runs in nine matches. 28 is probably his highest score and he has a strike rate of 120. Firstly, the shot he played – how, why, a player had just gotten out and you also slogged and got out. Is there no accountability?” he said on his YouTube channel.

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Sometimes you feel whether he cares or not: Aakash Chopra

With just 52 runs in ten matches at an average of 5.77, the 35-year-old was a massive underperformer for RCB this season. Chopra felt Maxwell’s casual approach throughout the season, resulted in his poor performance.

“The team might also be thinking that he is such a big player and they give him 10 crore rupees, so they expect you to show a little cricketing smarts and play for them just like he plays for Australia. Sometimes you feel whether he cares or not. Does he actually feel for the side that strongly? I am sure he does but the way he plays poses a question for sure. He also dropped a straightforward catch,” Chopra added.

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While praising Rajat Patidar (34 off 22) and Mahipal Lomror (32 off 17) for their cameos, Chopra felt RCB’s total was sub-par after a promising start from Virat Kohli (33 off 24). He also questioned their decision to promote Green ahead of the in-form Patidar after skipper Faf du Plessis’ early dismissal.

“Rajasthan won the toss and said they would bowl first, and the way Trent Boult bowled at the start. He conceded only six runs in three overs and got Faf du Plessis out. RCB said they would make a change this time, that every time they send Rajat Patidar at No. 3 but would send Cameron Green this time. Don’t know why they sent him,” he further added.

Chopra felt RCB missed a chance to put up a more challenging total against RR’s bowling attack led by Trent Boult (1/16), Ashwin (2/19), and Avesh Khan (3/44). While RR lost wickets in the chase, Riyan Parag’s 36 off 26 proved to be instrumental before Rovman Powell’s six sealed the win.