The 2022 IPL mega auction was an important event for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as there were not only looking to overhaul their squad for the next 3-4 years but the Bangalore franchise was also in the hunt for a new captain. Virat Kohli who led the team from 2013 had stepped down from the role following the culmination of the 2021 season. 

The auction saw RCB as one of the busiest teams in the room as they spent big money on Harshal Patel (10.75 cr), Wanindu Hasaranga (10.75 cr), Josh Hazlewood (7.75 cr), and Faf du Plessis (7 cr). Earlier, they had retained the services of Virat Kohli (15 cr), Glenn Maxwell (11 cr), and Mohammed Siraj (7 cr). 

With the squad fully built for the 2022 season, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has picked Australian all-rounder Maxwell to lead the team. Gavaskar feels giving Maxwell the additional responsibility will make him a better player and see him score more runs. 

Talking to Sporstak, Gavaskar said, “I think if Glenn Maxwell is given the responsibility then a different kind of Maxwell will be seen in IPL. Last year he batted brilliantly probably keeping the mega auction in mind, but he was retained after that, which was good, I guess, for him.” 

“We have often seen that players who bat well but score 30-40 runs quickly and get out without getting the job done- especially when suppose the team requires 70 or 80 runs more. But when these same players are given a responsibility then they played well showing better shot selection. So if Maxwell is given the captaincy, he will score more and play better,” added Gavaskar. 

Maxwell is the captain of Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League (BBL) and was RCB’s best performer with the bat in the 2021 season with a record of 513 runs in 15 games at a strike rate of 144.10. Harshal Patel who was re-signed by RCB had picked Faf du Plessis as a captaincy option in an interview with Star Sports. Faf has led the South African cricket team in the past for a few years.