'What on earth was that?': Former cricketers slam Glenn Maxwell after his unwanted record in IPL Eliminator

NEW DELHI: Glenn Maxwell's performance proved to be the biggest disappointment for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2024 Eliminator clash against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. The star player, often hailed as the 'Big Show' for his explosive batting prowess, was dismissed for a golden duck, matching Dinesh Karthik's dubious record of 18 ducks in the Indian Premier League.

The critical over by veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin turned the game on its head. After removing the in-form Cameron Green for 27 off 21 balls, Ashwin outsmarted Maxwell with a deceptive delivery, resulting in Maxwell's golden duck. This key moment significantly contributed to RCB's downfall, leading to their eventual exit from the tournament.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan and ex-England skipper Kevin Pietersen did not hold back their criticism.

Taking to X, Pathan questioned Maxwell's shot selection, posting, "What was Maxwell doing?"

His sentiment was echoed by Pietersen, who, while commentating, remarked, "What on earth was that from Glenn Maxwell? This is a huge game, you need your biggest players to perform, you need to give yourself a chance. That from Glenn Maxwell isn't good enough."

1/9:IPL trophy eludes Virat Kohli after Bengaluru's loss to Rajasthan

<p>IPL trophy eludes Virat Kohli after Bengaluru's loss to Rajasthan</p>AFP

2/9:RCB Knocked Out

<p>Virat Kohli suffered more heartbreak as Royal Challengers Bengaluru were knocked out of the IPL after a four-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad.</p>AFP

3/9:Heatwave Challenges

<p>Ahmedabad remained hot, with temperatures soaring above 43 degrees Celsius, and over 85,000 fans turned up for the eliminator despite the heat.</p>AFP

4/9:Do-or-die play-off

<p>Rajasthan restricted RCB to 172-8, a total they overhauled with six balls to spare in the do-or-die play-off at the world's biggest cricket stadium.</p>AFP

5/9:Bengaluru's IPL Title Wait

<p>Bengaluru and Kohli extend their wait for a first IPL title, as Rajasthan will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last play-off on Friday in Chennai.</p>AFP

6/9:Kolkata's Final Berth

<p>Kolkata made their fourth IPL final after they hammered Hyderabad in the first play-off on Tuesday in Ahmedabad's intense heat.</p>AFP

7/9:Sensational Bowling

<p>Trent Boult, with figures of 1-16, and Ravichandran Ashwin, 2-19, played pivotal roles in a disciplined bowling attack for Rajasthan.</p>AFP

8/9:Rajasthan's Chase

<p>Rajasthan stuttered in their chase after Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson departed, but Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer got their chase back on track.</p>AFP

9/9:RCB's Remarkable Journey

<p>Bengaluru's dream run ended after they rose from the bottom of the table to win six in a row and make the play-offs.</p>AFP

IPL trophy eludes Virat Kohli after Bengaluru's loss to Rajasthan

The disappointment surrounding Maxwell's performance was palpable. Known for his aggressive and match-winning abilities, Maxwell's failure in such a critical game drew ire from fans and analysts alike. Pietersen's on-air critique underscored the gravity of Maxwell's failure to deliver when it mattered most.

With this dismissal, Maxwell joined Dinesh Karthik at the top of an unwanted leaderboard for the most ducks in IPL history, each having 18 to their name. They are followed by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma with 17 ducks, and Piyush Chawla, Mandeep Singh, and Sunil Narine, each with 15 ducks.