IPL 2017: Virender Sehwag slams Kings XI Punjab's Glenn Maxwell in press conference
Pune: Virender Sehwag did not hold back as he slammed Glenn Maxwell and other foreign cricketers who played for Kings XI Punjab in the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League. The Preity Zinta-co-owned side, who had a chance to make it to playoffs had they defeated Rising Pune Supergiant, lost the match meekly to crash out of IPL.
Sehwag, who is a mentor to the side, minced no words criticising Maxwell and Co.
"I'm very disappointed. I can say that none of the foreign players took responsibility and at least played 12 to 15 overs. Their role was at least one of the top four should bat for 12 to 15 overs, but none of the batsmen took the responsibility,” said Sehwag in the post-match press conference.
"I think they were complaining that the wicket was a bit slow but when you play international cricket so much, you should get used to playing on difficult or good wickets. There are very rare occasions when you get a good wicket to bat on but whatever wicket you get, you have to play at least 20 overs for your side. But Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Guptill and Morgan (failed to do so)."
"Guptill's role was to cash in during the Powerplay and Wriddhiman Saha's was to just bat around with him. So I don't mind him getting out on the first or second ball as long as he knows what he's doing. There's no point blaming him; I should rather blame the other batsmen,” Sehwag said.
Sehwag then targeted Shaun Marsh, Eoin Morgan and Maxwell. He said: “Even Marsh, his role was to play till 10-12 overs, but the way he got out was disappointing and then Maxwell and Morgan, these are the experienced players... I mean the players who got out had been informing the next batsman that it's a slow wicket and even then if you throw away wickets, it means that you're not up for the game."
Maxwell, who was appointed skipper of the side ahead of this season, did not live up to the expectations despite showing the promise. His dismissal, where he chipped one straight to Ajinkya Rahane in the deep, did not please Sehwag one bit.
“We always knew that when Maxwell fires, then he can win the match on his own. But he didn't fire in eight or nine games. That is a big disappointment, especially since he's experienced, having played for Australia's Test and ODI teams. He didn't take the responsibility as a captain and didn't perform for Kings XI Punjab,” concluded Sehwag.
