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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Is Dhoni right in comparing Maxwell with Tendulkar, Sehwag?
This article was first published 9 years ago

Is Dhoni right in comparing Maxwell with Tendulkar, Sehwag?

Last updated on: May 08, 2014 15:47 IST

Image: Glenn Maxwell
Photographs: BCCI

Glenn Maxwell's blitzkrieg 38-ball 90 in Kings XI Punjab's thumping victory over Chennai Super Kings in the IPL match in Cuttack on Wednesday night prompted losing captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to compare the Australian with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in talent.

-IPL PHOTOS: Maxwell's 38-ball 90 fires Kings past Super Kings

Maxwell, the highest run-scorer this IPL season with 435 from seven matches, butchered the Chennai bowlers as Punjab scored a comprehensive 44-run victory over Chennai.

Dhoni couldn't help but heap praised on him.

"Maxwell batted exceptionally well, and he was supported by the other batsmen as well.

"You need some serious talent to hit those sixes one after the other. He is someone who is very different, like Sehwag or Tendulkar, and he is batting at his best," Dhoni said, when asked about the eight huge sixes, including three reverse hit, hit by Maxwell.

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'Don't really know what to say'

Image: Glenn Maxwell celebrates with David Miller
Photographs: BCCI

Punjab captain George Bailey was speechless when asked to describe Maxwell's incredible innings.

"Don't really know what to say about it. It was something brilliant!

"It was almost the future what we saw there. Maxi and Davey (David Miller)... the shots they played, and even the other young players and their shots! They gave themselves a little time and that was crucial. I had a bit of luck tonight as well."

Bailey added that it was satisfying to beat a formidable side like Chennai twice in the tournament.

"Chennai are the benchmark, and for us to beat them a couple of times, it gives us confidence," he said.

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Maxwell hopes to continue his good form

Image: Glenn Maxwell in action
Photographs: BCCI

Maxwell, who was deservedly named the man-of-the-match, said he hopes to continue with his good form.

"The pitch was lovely, coming on quite well. The spinners held up a little and we got away quickly. We (him and Miller) love batting together; we were talking about it a lot and it was fun to have a big partnership together and hit a few out of the park," he said.

"I practice and keep trying to expand my game and try and hit the ball to different parts of the ground.

"I keep trying to do what I'm doing and we're winning as well. We didn't have an idea in mind. We thought the pitch would get better in the second innings, but once we went there we saw how good it was and we just kept going."

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'We lost the game when our spinners came'

Image: Chennai Super King players
Photographs: BCCI

Dhoni said the obvious about his bowlers, adding his spinners gave away too many runs in the second half of the Punjab innings and that had made the difference in the match.

"We lost the game when our spinners came," Dhoni said.

"If we had got off to a great start, we could have gone for it. But we lost Dwayne Smith and Ravindra Jadeja, who was our final throw of the dice. When he fell we decided to just play it out," he added.