Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has expressed his appreciation for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) after they took the initiative to explain their decision to not retain him ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Maxwell, who has been a crucial player for RCB since joining the franchise in 2021, was released as part of the team’s strategic overhaul. Despite the decision, Maxwell acknowledged the franchise’s clear and respectful communication, particularly through a detailed conversation with RCB’s Mo Bobat and Andy Flower.
RCB has retained only three Indian players for the upcoming season—Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, and Rajat Patidar—while Maxwell, along with several other players, has been let go. The Australian all-rounder played an important role for the team over the past four seasons, contributing significantly to the middle order and helping RCB reach the playoffs three times. Maxwell, who was retained by the franchise for ₹11 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 auction, described his exit as "beautiful," highlighting the way RCB handled the situation.
In an interview on ESPNcricinfo's Around the Wicket show, Maxwell revealed that he had received a phone call from Mo Bobat and Andy Flower, who explained the rationale behind the decision. "I got a phone call from Mo Bobat and Andy Flower, and we had a Zoom call where they explained the decision not to retain me. It was actually really beautiful," Maxwell said. "We ended up talking about the game for about half an hour, discussing their strategy and what they’re aiming for in the future. I completely understand the direction they are heading."
Although Maxwell's release marks the end of his current stint with RCB, the all-rounder remains optimistic about the possibility of rejoining the franchise in the future. The IPL 2025 mega auction is scheduled to take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Maxwell expressed his desire to return to RCB. "I won’t say my RCB innings is over. I’d certainly love to go back there. It was a great franchise, and I really enjoyed my time there," he said.
Maxwell has been an integral part of RCB's squad over the past seasons, amassing 1,266 runs in 52 matches, making him the fifth-highest run-scorer for the franchise. Despite being released, Maxwell’s fond memories of playing for RCB and his strong relationship with the team remain, and he hopes for a chance to return to the franchise in the upcoming auction.
