Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested that Glenn Maxwell, the star all-rounder of Bengaluru's team, might be excluded from their lineup for the upcoming IPL 2024 match against Rajasthan on April 6 due to his poor batting form. Maxwell, known for his explosive performances, has struggled to find his rhythm since the beginning of this season, contributing to Bengaluru's overall poor performance.
Maxwell's Poor IPL 2024 Run
In the four innings he has played so far in IPL 2024, Maxwell has only scored 31 runs, raising doubts about his participation in the upcoming game.
"I feel Will Jacks is about to play. It's a matter of one more game if they go that far as well. (Glenn) Maxwell might be dropped first and then the captain (Faf du Plessis) might come under pressure. The pressure will come on the captain because Will Jacks is an opener. I feel that's going to happen. Let's see when Will Jacks gets a chance to play," Chopra said.
Since joining Bengaluru during the IPL 2022 auction, Maxwell has become a fan favorite at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, he has failed to replicate his usual explosive batting this season. His performances have been underwhelming, starting with a duck in the season opener against Chennai, followed by a brief innings of 3 runs against Punjab. Although Maxwell managed to score 28 runs off 19 balls against Kolkata, his recent dismissal for a duck in Bengaluru's match against Lucknow on April 2 has left both him and the fans disappointed.
Maxwell's Loss, Jacks' Gain
In his recent YouTube video, Aakash Chopra elaborated on how Maxwell's poor form might pave the way for Will Jacks, Bengaluru's English recruit, to make his debut. Jacks was a significant part of the England squad in the U-19 World Cup 2022 and was eagerly anticipated during the IPL 2024 auction, where Bengaluru acquired him for Rs 3.2 crore. Despite having yet to make his IPL debut, Jacks is expected by many to feature in the RCB squad against Rajasthan Royals on April 6.
"I had probably said this before the tournament as well that you should somehow keep Will Jacks in the XI because he is coming with incredible form,"He is in red-hot form, so he shouldn't be kept out. He bats and bowls off-spin," Chopra added.
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