IPL 2026: Did PBKS make a mistake by releasing Glenn Maxwell?

Glenn Maxwellhas been one of the most formidable players in T20 cricket over the years, but he has not been able to do justice to his talent in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Australian all-rounder

had his best IPL season in 2014, when he played some exhilarating knocks for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) and helped them reach the final for the first time.

However, since that performance, Maxwell has not been able to live up to his potential in the cash-rich league. In IPL 2021, he scored 500-plus runs for the second time in a season. In the next two editions, he aggregated 301 and 400 runs, respectively. However, in the last two seasons, he has looked out of sorts.

In 2024, he played for RCB and scored just 52 runs in 10 matches at a dismal average of 5.78. The experienced campaigner was roped in by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 4.2 crore at the IPL 2025 mega-auction.

While he was expected to rediscover his old form after reuniting with a franchise where he had achieved great success in the past, he failed to replicate his success. Maxwell also had a familiar environment, with five Australian players in the squad and three Australians in the support staff, including head coach Ricky Ponting.

However, he had a dismal 2025 IPL season with the Punjab Kings, scoring just 48 runs in six innings and taking four wickets before being ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to a fractured finger.

Maxwell struggled with the bat, registering a low average and strike rate, but had more satisfactory returns with his off-spin bowling.

Will PBKS regret releasing Glenn Maxwell?

Punjab made it to the final last year, and one of the key performers for them towards the back end of the tournament was Josh Inglis. However, the Australian wicketkeeper has been released by PBKS ahead of IPL 2026 as he won't be available for the entire season. Had Inglis been in the squad, Maxwell would have struggled to find a spot in the team. However, in the former's absence, the veteran could have got a few opportunities.

An in-form Maxwell makes a team look more formidable than it actually is. He has the ability to win games by himself. However, retaining him for INR 4.2 crore might not have made much sense. Instead, PBKS might look to add an overseas wicketkeeper-batter like Jonny Bairstow or Quinton de Kock, among others. While there is a wicketkeeping option like Prabhsimran Singh, who will likely play all 14 matches, PBKS might also want an experienced overseas player for that role.