In a stinging turn of events during the IPL 2025 opener on March 25, Glenn Maxwell of the Punjab Kings has broken the record for the most ducks in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. Maxwell's 19th duck, which coincidentally was a golden one, occurred when he stepped in to bat against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The incident took place swiftly—Maxwell, batting at number five, faced his first delivery from Gujarat's leg-spinner R Sai Kishore, only to attempt a reverse sweep and get trapped LBW. Despite appearing hesitatingly on the field, Maxwell opted against reviewing the decision, only for replays to later reveal that the ball would have missed the stumps, adding salt to the wound.
With this unfortunate dismissal, Maxwell has surpassed the previous record holders, Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Karthik, both of whom had recorded 18 ducks in their IPL careers. For context, Sharma reached his 18th duck just two days earlier in a match against the Chennai Super Kings.
Maxwell's struggles seem to be symptomatic of a broader trend throughout his IPL career. In 2024, he managed to score just 52 runs in 10 matches while playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which led to his release from the team. His inconsistency has drawn criticism from fans who often contrast his performances for Australia with his play in the IPL.
As the match progressed, Punjab Kings had managed to post a score of 188/5 in their innings, led by a notable 64-run inning from skipper Shreyas Iyer. However, it was Gujarat's bowlers, particularly R Sai Kishore, who sent shockwaves through the Punjab batting lineup, taking three wickets for just 26 runs during the match.
With the pressure mounting on Maxwell to perform, many fans took to social media to voice their frustrations and share viral memes highlighting the disparity between his performances in franchise cricket versus international games. Comments ranged from sarcastic observations like, "Maxwell is so braindead, man. He never does these things for Melbourne Stars or Australia, but in IPL, he plays so casually and barely takes responsibility," showcasing the fans' disappointment in the player.
Amidst the scrutiny, the Australian all-rounder has a broader T20 career to reflect on, where he has registered a staggering total of 35 ducks over 460 matches—placing him fourth overall in T20 history; however, this latest record in the IPL will define his 2025 season unless he can turn the tide quickly.
There are expectations from his fans and the Punjab Kings management, hoping that Maxwell can rise to the occasion and deliver performances that justify his valuable spot on the team ahead of future matches. With pressure mounting and a spotlight on his performance, the next few games could be a turning point not just for Maxwell but for the Punjab Kings’ season as they aim to contend for the IPL trophy this year.
As it stands, Maxwell's approach to the game has been compared unfavorably to his international commitments, and many are closely monitoring how he handles the responsibility moving forward. The IPL narrative for Maxwell promises to remain riveting as he attempts to navigate the pressures of expectations and redefine his place within the franchise that gave him another shot.
