IPL 2025: Glenn Maxwell Struggles Continue as PBKS Collapse to 80/6 After Choosing to Bat First Against KKR

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IPL 2025: Under the dazzling floodlights of the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, the 31st match of IPL 2025 promised fireworks. Tuesday night cricket fever gripped Chandigarh as Punjab Kings won the toss and chose to bat.

Hoping to set the tone with the willow against a formidable Kolkata Knight Riders unit. The stage was grand, the crowd buzzing, and all eyes were on Glenn Maxwell-the seasoned showman expected to turn back the clock with a vintage knock.

PBKS's top order crumbled like a cookie under pressure, and Maxwell-once again-found himself trapped in the same loop of promise and disappointment. What was billed as a comeback night quickly turned into a disaster reel, and the Mullanpur faithful were left stunned as the scoreboard screamed 80 for 6 after just 10 overs.

The Carrom Ball That Broke the Stumps and the Spirits

It was the 10th over, and PBKS were already in tatters. Enter Varun Chakaravarthy—his mystery spin was exactly the kind of puzzle the struggling Punjab lineup did not want to solve. On the very first ball of his fresh spell, Chakaravarthy delivered a carrom ball to Maxwell. The Australian, seemingly on the back foot and eyeing an off-side push, failed to pick the delivery. The ball darted in and shattered the stumps—Maxwell b Varun Chakaravarthy 7(10) [4s-1].

Maxwell's Miserable Slide IPL 2025

Glenn Maxwell's 2025 IPL campaign has spiralled into a cold streak of missed opportunities and mounting pressure. In five innings so far, his scores read like a horror story for any top-order batter: 0(1) vs Gujarat Titans, 30(21) vs Rajasthan Royals, 1(2) vs Chennai Super Kings, 3(7) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, and 7(10) vs Kolkata Knight Riders. The only glimpse of form came in that lone innings against RR, but even that knock faded away in the larger narrative of inconsistency. The Maxwell that once cleared boundaries with arrogant ease now appears hesitant, struggling to time the ball and dominate attacks.

Maxwell Since 2024: A Downward Spiral

Once hailed as the 'Big Show’, Glenn Maxwell’s IPL form has nosedived dramatically over the past two seasons. Since the start of IPL 2024, Maxwell has played 14 innings, mustering a dismal 93 runs. His average? A shocking 6.64—the lowest among the 75 players who’ve batted 10 or more times in that period.

His strike rate of 110.71, while not dreadful, reflects a batsman unsure whether to go big or consolidate. But perhaps most alarming is his duck count—five golden zeros in just 14 innings. For a player who once struck fear into the hearts of bowlers, these numbers paint a picture of confusion and decline.

Maxwell in the IPL since 2024

• Innings: 14
• Runs: 93
• Avg: 6.64
• SR: 110.71
• Ducks: 5

The 2025 Auction Gamble

PBKS’s decision to acquire Maxwell for ₹4.20 crore in the 2025 auction raised a few eyebrows. While some hoped the veteran would rediscover his mojo, others questioned whether nostalgia was guiding Punjab’s cheque book.

At 37, Maxwell is no spring chicken. Though his overall IPL record—139 matches, 2,805 runs, 18 fifties, and 40 wickets—is respectable, it’s his recent form that raises alarms. He last crossed 30 runs in an IPL innings back in 2023. Since then, it’s been a long string of low scores, slow starts, and premature departures.

Today's Numbers: Varun's Over, Punjab's Plunge

Let’s rewind that fateful 10th over, which pretty much sealed PBKS’s fate:

• 9.1 Varun Chakaravarthy to Maxwell – Bowled!
• 9.2 Shashank Singh – no run
• 9.3 Shashank – 1 run
• 9.4 Suryansh Shedge – 2 runs
• 9.5 Suryansh – 1 run
• 9.6 Shashank – no run

Six balls, four runs, and the wicket of Maxwell. Chakaravarthy finished with figures of 2-0-7-2, stamping his authority on the middle overs.

At the 10-over mark, PBKS were limping at 80 for 6. Shashank Singh on 1 off 3 balls, Suryansh Shedge on 4 off 3. The powerplay had long passed, and the rebuild looked more like damage control.

From Big Show to Fading Star?

Glenn Maxwell’s career in the IPL has always been a mix of highs and head-scratching lows. His 2014 season with Punjab remains the stuff of legend. But fast forward to 2025, and it’s a stark contrast. His last match prior to this one saw him score just 3 off 7 against Hyderabad—a continuation of the underwhelming trend.

Still, there remains hope—at least in the hearts of loyal PBKS fans. “He’s a match-winner on his day,” said one hopeful supporter on social media. “Maybe all he needs is one big knock to turn it around.”

But time, as they say, waits for no man—not even for Maxwell.

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