Former India cricketer Ravi Shastri was left in awe after Glenn Maxwell played a gem of a knock against Afghanistan on Tuesday, November 8 at the Wankhede Stadium. With Australia struggling at 91 for seven in 18.3 overs while chasing a stiff target of 292, Maxwell scored an unbeaten 201 off 128 balls with the help of 21 fours and 10 sixes.
He also put on a partnership of 202 runs with Pat Cummins, who scored an important 12 off 68 balls with one four. Shastri compared Maxwell to 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, who played a similar kind of a knock against Zimbabwe at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells.
With India struggling at 17 for five at one point in time, Kapil Dev scored an unbeaten 175 off 138 balls with 16 fours and six sixes. On the back of his knock, India won the match by 31 runs. Australia, in the meantime, secured victory by three wickets and made their way through to the semi-final.
Not hesitating one bit to compare Maxwell to the legendary Indian cricketer, Shastri took to X and wrote, “Stunning. Reminds me of Kaps of 83.”
After the match, Maxwell said that he had previously failed to capitalise on similar situations. He was finally pleased after playing the match-winning knock with his team in deep trouble.
“I feel like I had those types of innings before where I was given the chance and I haven’t made the most of it so to make the most of it is probably the most pleasing thing, to be not out with Patty at the end is something I am really proud of,” Maxwell was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Australia’s last and final league game is against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.
