Usman Khawaja backs Glenn Maxwell ahead of T20 World Cup despite IPL struggles

Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja has thrown his weight behind teammate Glenn Maxwell, expressing confidence in the all-rounder's performance in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.

Khawaja's remarks come in the wake of Maxwell's underwhelming stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where he managed to score only 52 runs in nine innings.

Despite Maxwell's lackluster IPL outing, Khawaja emphasized the irrelevance of the tournament's form, highlighting Maxwell's track record of delivering under pressure. 

“The IPL form is absolutely irrelevant. Maxy’s proven himself time and time again. Any player who’s performed over a long period of time understands that you can’t perform well every time you go out there," Khawaja said while speaking to the West Australian.

Khawaja further elaborated on Maxwell's resilience, stressing that T20 cricket demands risk-taking and consistency, traits Maxwell possesses. Despite recent setbacks, Khawaja believes that if Maxwell finds his form with one good innings, he will excel in the T20 World Cup.

"You take a few risks, particularly if you bat in the middle order, and T20 cricket’s not easy. But [for this tournament] if he gets one good innings, he’s away. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past. He’s not going to change his game and nor should he. Just keep going. He’ll find it," he further added.

Is it worth noting that in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Maxwell showcased his prowess with the bat, amassing 400 runs in total. With Australia pinning high hopes on Maxwell for the T20 World Cup, Khawaja urged his teammate to maintain his approach and confidence in the upcoming tournament.