IPL 2021: Former England captain, Michael Vaughan feels that Australian star Glenn Maxwell can finish the season with the tag of the most valuable player of the IPL 2021. Michael Vaughan’s comment comes in just half an hour after the game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders commenced in Chennai on Sunday.
Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first. Bowling first, Eoin Morgan started the game with spin from both ends. By introducing spinner so early, Morgan’s intention of troubling Kohli came out wide and clear and he even succeed in it as Virat Kohli departed for just 5 runs in the second over of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
And just after 3 balls, Chakravarthy sent Patidar back to pavilion for just 1 run. At 9/2, RCB looked in trouble and there only comes Glenn Maxwell at rescue again. And he came out swinging, looking for fences against the KKR spinners – an approach fraught with risk, especially on this pitch, but that is how Maxwell has carved his career.
He attacked Shakib Al Hasan, Pat Cummins and Prasidh Krishna, and finally Chakravarthy as well; the Australian brought up his fifty in just 28 balls, on a pitch where opener Devdutt Padikkal struggled for timing for his 28-ball-25.
Maxwell has been making impact from match one for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has brushed off his poor IPL 2020 form. Witnessing the performance of the Australian all-rounder, Michael Vaughan said that the 32 year old might just become the Player of the Tournament, despite being under the shadow of Kohli and AB de Villiers.
Former England captain also feels that the present RCB side is the strongest he has ever seen. Notably, the franchise spent big amount on Kyle Jamieson (INR 15 crore), Glenn Maxwell (INR 14.25 crore), Daniel Christian (INR 4.8 crore) to strengthen their team and fulfil their dream of lifting IPL trophy at least once.
“Love watching @Gmaxi_32 Bat .. He might just end up being the player of the tournament .. slightly under the radar in the same team as @imVkohli & @ABdeVilliers17 !!! @RCBTweets looking the strongest I have seen them … #IPL2021,” tweeted Michael Vaughan.