Veteran Australia T20 batter Glenn Maxwell was not on the list of retained players when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced their retentions last month. Maxwell was not expected to get retained after a forgettable run in the previous season. A few days after the retentions were announced, Maxwell revealed that he was informed by the decision over a video call and indicated that he may get retained via Right to Match (RTM) card in the IPL 2025 mega auction later this month.
“I got a phone call from Mo Bobat and Andy Flower. I sat there on a zoom call, and they sort of explained to me the decision not to be retained. And, it was actually a really beautiful exit meeting, if that if that could be possible. We ended up talking about the game for about half an hour and talking about their strategy and what they were looking to get to do, going forward. So, I was really happy with that,” said Maxwell on ESPNCricinfo’s Around the wicket show.
Maxwell hopeful of wearing RCB colours again
Maxwell scored just 52 runs from nine innings. The slump came after he scored 400 runs in IPL 2023 including five half-centuries. The 36-year-old hopes he gets another chance to play for RCB.
“They were obviously changing a few of their staff as well. So they needed to get that sorted before they started talking to players. And I understood that process was going to take a bit of time. And, but yeah, you're always sort of getting a little bit edgy around that, that last date about whether you're gonna be retained and not so sure what's gonna happen. But, completely understand what they the direction they're heading in. They went, with three unions to build that core. And, yeah, hopefully their overseas can complement, those locals. Yeah I wouldn't say my RCB journey's over, but, yeah, I'd certainly love to get back there. It was a great franchise to play for and really enjoyed my time there,” he added.
3 RTMs available for RCB
RCB retained just three players ahead of the mega auction. Virat Kohli was the top pick at Rs 21 crore followed by Rajat Patidar (Rs 11 crore) and uncapped pacer Yash Dayal (Rs 5 crore). They have Rs 83 crore left in the purse. Also, they can exercise three RTM cards at the auction to rope in the likes of Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Faf du Plessis, Will Jacks and Akash Deep.
