Glenn Maxwell, the Australian cricket dynamo known for his flamboyant style and powerful hitting, has just released a book titled “The Showman“. It offers fans an inside look at his career, both the highs and the lows, with some unexpected revelations. One of the most gripping stories Maxwell shares is about an “ugly” episode during his time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab), involving cricket legend Virender Sehwag.
A Peek into the Past
In a particularly eye-opening chapter, Maxwell recounts an incident during the 2017 IPL season that left a lasting impact on him. Maxwell was going through a rough patch with his form, and the pressure was mounting. As the team struggled, tensions ran high, culminating in a heated exchange with then-mentor and cricketing icon Virender Sehwag.
“When it came to selection, I thought it might be a good idea to bring the coaches into a WhatsApp group to make our decisions. Everyone agreed to this and shared their teams, with the exception of Sehwag. At the end of the process, he made it clear that he would pick the starting XI, end of story. We were losing on and off the field by now, with Sehwag on more than one occasion making decisions that didn’t necessarily make sense,” Maxwell wrote in his book, the excerpt of which was published on ESPNCricinfo.
Sehwag, known for his straightforward and often blunt demeanor, didn’t hold back in expressing his disappointment with Maxwell’s performance. The confrontation was a turning point for Maxwell, who felt both embarrassed and motivated to turn things around.
Learning from Legends
Despite the harsh words, Maxwell reflects on the incident with a sense of growth and understanding. He acknowledges that Sehwag’s tough love was intended to spur him into action. The experience, though challenging, became a valuable lesson in resilience and perseverance.
“I volunteered to do press that night, but Sehwag said he would instead. Upon getting onto the team bus, I found I’d been deleted from the main WhatsApp group. What was going on here? By the time we reached the hotel my phone was blowing up, with Sehwag having unloaded on me as a “big disappointment”, blaming me for not taking responsibility as captain, and all the rest. It was unpleasant, especially when I thought we had parted on good terms,” wrote Maxwell.
“I texted him to say how much it hurt to read those comments and added that he had lost a fan in me for the way he had conducted himself. Sehwag’s response was simple: “Don’t need fan like you.” We never spoke again. I knew my time was at an end and told the owners as much: if Sehwag was going to stick around, they were making a mistake and not to bother with me. He only lasted one more season,” he added.
In his book, Maxwell shares, “It was one of those moments where you either crumble or rise. I chose to rise. Sehwag’s words, though tough to hear, were what I needed at that point in my career.”
Behind the Glamour
“The Showman” offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional cricketer, beyond the glamour and glory. Maxwell’s honesty about his struggles and the pressure of living up to expectations is refreshing and relatable. The book delves into the mental and emotional challenges that come with professional sports, shedding light on the human side of the athletes we admire.
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