Australia’s swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is looking forwards to featuring in the upcoming 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 after the IPL GC confirmed the hosting of the lucrative T20 event later this year in the UAE, pending government approval.
The IPL 2020 is set to take place this year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic after ICC postponed the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia due to the global health crisis.
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However, Maxwell said he is disappointed that the T20 World Cup is postponed, but is "pretty excited" on the prospect of having an IPL 13 this year, saying he is mentally ready for the cash-rich tournament, whereas many as 17 Australians will feature.
The all-rounder became the second most expensive buy after his counterpart, Pat Cummins, at IPL 2020 Auctions after he was bought by Kings XI Punjab for whopping 10.75 Crore after an intense bidding war with Delhi Capitals. It will be Maxwell’s second stint with KXIP having played for the side in 2014-17.
Maxwell told Foxsports: “Any time you have a home World Cup you are certainly looking forward to it. We felt like we had been building towards it as a T20 side. You wait and see (with the IPL), waiting on the judgments of other people, what you can and can’t do with travel and quarantine times and all that, if everything gets ticked off there I have no real reason no to go.”
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The all-rounder further added, “The overseas guys get a hell of a kick playing in it, some of the best players in the world rubbing shoulders, similar to a World Cup, but on a smaller scale. If everything gets ticked off I would love to be available for it.”
Following a self-imposed break from cricket in October, Maxwell was included in the 26-man Australian squad for the upcoming England tour and the all-rounder insisted the break didn’t have any impact on his game since he has been preparing himself mentally and physically to step on the field once again.
Maxwell further noted, “To be home was a bit of a luxury at this time of the year. I’ve actually had a great time, freshened up the batteries and the mind as well. I was always mentally getting myself ready for this time of year when there would potentially be cricket back on.”
He concluded, “I haven’t been thinking about where we are going to end u or who we are going to be playing. It was about getting my game ready, my body ready, and making sure I was ready for any series.”
(With Foxsports Inputs)
