Australia registered a dominating win of 66 runs over India in the opening match of the 3-match ODI series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. The three main architects of Australia’s big win — Steve Smith, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell — all roared back to form after ordinary Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 campaigns. In the IPL 2020, Maxwell failed to smash a single six while playing for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).
The Australian all-rounder managed to score just 108 runs from 13 matches for KL Rahul’s team who crashed out before reaching the play-offs despite a dramatic late surge. He was struggling to get his rhythm back in the UAE as he was guilty of throwing away his wickets, lamost in every maych for his team.
Despite captain KL Rahul and the team management showing faith in him, Maxwell didn’t contribute at all with the bat after having sealed a deal worth ₹10.75 crore. However, in just 19 balls, Glenn Maxwell was at his peak form on Friday. Donning the Australia colors, Maxwell was in big-hitting mood as he struck 3 sixes and 5 boundaries for a 19-ball 45.
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Maxwell’s late charge helped Australia post a humongous score of 374 after which the hosts restricted India to 308 for 8. Fans pointed out how the likes of Maxwell, Finch and Smith struggled in IPL 2020 but while playing for Australian colours to regain form. James Neesham, who hit a match-winning 48 from just 24 balls for New Zealand against West Indies in the 1st T20I on Friday, had also struggled at IPL 2020. Neesham responded to a funny meme on social media.
I apologised to him while I was batting 😂 🦁 🙏 #kxipfriends ❤️
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) November 28, 2020
Glenn Maxwell responded to Neesham, saying he had apologised to his KXIP skipper, KL Rahul, who has handling the wicketkeeping duties for India against Australia on Friday. Maxwell had tweeted, “I apologised to him while I was batting. #KXIPfriends”.
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Steve Smith and Aaron Finch’s hundreds followed by an all-round bowling effort helped Australia take a 1-0 lead. The hosts will be looking to clinch an unbeatable lead when they face India in the 2nd ODI in Sydney on Sunday.
