Swashbuckling Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell spilt beans on the life confined to the bio-bubbles and stated that it can become a “nightmare” in the days to come and the cricketers are actually leading a very difficult lifestyle in order to ensure there are no hiccups while they continue to be part of the Indian Premier League.
In the past, Maxwell had shared his mental health stories and how mental fatigue affected him. Reacting to the current situation, Maxwell further added that adjusting to such a life amidst the pandemic is certainly taking a heavy toll on the players all across the world.
“It’s very difficult (to move from one bubble to other)…you being sheltered from people outside your bio-secure bubble and you get stuck into this never-ending nightmare where you are living the same day over and over again,” he said in an interview posted by his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore on its youtube channel.
“You almost tend to forget how to have a normal conversation with the outside world. That can be very hard mentally and is a massive challenge. But it’s great to be back playing and to be able to do our jobs and entertain people. But it’s still a difficult lifestyle at the moment,” he said.
“It does put a strain on a lot of relationships as well. You need your support networks to get you through those tough times,” Maxwell further added.
Maxwell will be finally realising his dream of representing the same team alongside Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. He further added that it doesn’t bother him that he was bought for such a hefty price in the auctions despite below-par performances in the past few seasons. This has been the case with Maxwell for several years. Despite being one of the most inconsistent star players in IPL, Maxwell continues to attract the other teams and yet again he went for a whopping Rs 14.25 crores for his services to the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the upcoming edition of the IPL.
“It’s been a long time (dream of playing alongside Kohli and de Villiers). Obviously having known them very well off the field, played against them fair bit but finally, I got to play in the same team,” Maxwell further added during the interview.
Maxwell wasn’t really surprised after getting a hefty sum in the auctions and said he thought that some of the teams were looking for a batting off-spinner and he is glad that RCB managed to bag his services for the upcoming season.
“Not really. I thought that there might be a little bit of interest. A lot of teams have brought that middle-order overseas player but I knew a couple of teams were looking at a batting off-spinner and I am glad that two teams went harder and RCB got hold of me.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore who is yet to win the IPL will start their campaign in the 14th edition against the Mumbai Indians on 9th April. Despite his indifferent returns in the IPL, Maxwell has always been a champion player for Australia whenever the team has travelled here and he feels that his vast experience of playing in the subcontinent might augur well with RCB who aims to win their maiden IPL season.
“I think my performances will take care of themselves. I want to have a positive influence of everything I do, be it attitude, helping out around the team, leadership wise helping out Virat when he needs it.
I suppose with my experience, I think it’s my 22nd trip to India… so with that sort of experience you have got to help out the rest of the group,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell said having spent the entire lockdown period with his fiancee at his Melbourne home, he is feeling fresh now and can’t wait to take the field for his new IPL side.
I was so excited to get going. A new team, a new tournament we are back in India after Dubai last year, I was so excited. Happy to be outside of quarantine. It was nice to see some friendly faces, meet a few new people, get out and run around.
Hopefully, that lifts other people as well when they see you happy running around. It can be infectious, it can spread through the group pretty quickly as much as a negative reaction can,” Maxwell concluded.