T20 World Cup 2021: Glenn Maxwell credits IPL teammates Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers for success

Melbourne: Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has attributed his return to form to IPL teammates Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, saying he has reaped rich dividends by spending time with the duo during his stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore in UAE. Maxwell said he was feeling “10-feet tall” simply by spending time, playing and training alongside Kohli and de Villiers. “Every day was a learning experience, every day I was I was finding something new out — I was being a sponge to Virat and AB, just watching the way they go about things,” Maxwell was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “That’s always been the one thing in the IPL I’ve been extremely thankful of — the opportunities that it gives you to learn off the best players in the world. “I was extremely fortunate to have two of the greats of the game in the same team and in the same batting line up and were open to sharing their experiences and talk to me about their game,” added the 33-year-old who has carried his scintillating IPL form to the T20 World Cup. “It makes you feel 10-feet tall when you’ve got your backing and they’re watching you or asking you questions. It just makes you feel confident, it just makes you feel happy. It was just nice to have a nice, comfortable environment.” Maxwell’s performance will be key to Australia’s dream of lifting the T20 World Cup title. “In my mind I’m not sure I’ve completely embraced (being Australia’s match winner). It’s not, ‘If I play well, we’re going to win a World Cup,’ there are no thoughts of that,” Maxwell said ahead of their final warm-up game against India, scheduled on Wednesday. Maxwell enjoyed a great second leg in the just-concluded IPL in the UAE, scoring 290 runs at an average of 41.43. “If I continue the process I’ve been doing at the IPL, I know I’m going to have success,” he said. “It’s a nice position to be in mentally that I’ve come off a good run of form. I’m not overthinking the stuff in-game.” Not just with the bat, Maxwell also hopes to play a vital role with his off-breaks in the showpiece. “The biggest thing for me is to be able to bowl not just to left-handers,” said the off-spinner, whose stock ball turning away from lefties is generally seen as an advantage against them. “I’ve been working really hard on bowling from over the wicket and being able to attack right-handed batters.” Australia will open their campaign against South Africa in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.