When you don’t get over the line, you’re certainly hurting: Glenn Maxwell reflects on RCB’s loss against CSK

RCB fell to a heartbreaking 8-run loss to CSK on Monday evening, as despite stellar knocks from skipper Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell, the hosts failed to cross the line at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. 

Set a target of 227 to get on a good batting track, RCB got off to a poor start with Virat Kohli and Mahipal Lomror gone cheaply. However, a counter-attacking 126-run partnership between Faf (62) and Maxwell (76) kept RCB in the hunt for a major part of the chase, before the duo’s dismissals within the space of two overs put the home team on the back foot. 

Although Shahbaz Ahamad (12), Dinesh Karthik (28) and impact player Suyash Prabhudessai (19) provided some glimpse of home, it was all a little too much for RCB in the end, as CSK pocketed a thrilling win. 

Looking back at the match and an important partnership, Maxwell shed some light on how the RCB lower order put in a good fight but the CSK bowlers were on top of their game. He said, “I felt like we were in the game for a long period there, even after myself and Faf got out, the guys who came in, it’s not an easy role to come in and just hit 12 runs an over straight off the bat. I thought Shahbaz and DK did a great job.”

“Even Suyash at the end there gave us a chance at the back end and I think that’s all you can do in a big chase like that, give yourself an opportunity and I thought they bowled really well in the back end as well. They nailed their yorkers, bowled a few changeups, bowled to their fields and unfortunately, we fell a bit short, but what an amazing spectacle it was out there.”

Maxwell further spoke about the disappointment of not being able to help the team across the line, despite being in a strong position. The Aussie star said, “It certainly hurts, I think whenever you feel like you’re in a winning position and you don’t get over the line, you’re certainly hurting. I felt while myself and Faf were out there, we were well in control of the game and unfortunately, once I got out, the pressure falls on the incoming batter and if we had taken that partnership 2-3 overs later in the game, probably it would have been well and truly in our grasp and unfortunately, we just let it slip a little bit.”