Maxwell Opts Out of IPL 2026: End of an Era for Australian All-Rounder

Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who is now 37 years old, made a declaration on Tuesday he will show up at IPL 2026 mini-auction signaling to the IPL his retirement. He is now officially off the list of top players who include Andre Russell and Faf du Plessis, who have also chosen not to take part in the auction that is going to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

Maxwell made his announcement via social media calling it a well-thought-out decision. He said, "Over my many outstanding seasons in the IPL, I have come to the conclusion that my name should not go into the auction this year. It is a big call and one made with lots of thanks for the league and its benefits."

Having last played for Punjab Kings with Shreyas Iyer as the captain and Ricky Ponting as the coach, the Australian superstar had a very short season last year because he suffered a finger injury. Punjab Kings paid Rs 4.2 crore in the last mega auction for him, and CSK and SRH were also interested in him.

And even with the high demands, Maxwell went through hard times at the bat scoring only 48 runs in 6 innings while being mainly used as a bowler. Throughout his IPL career, he gathered an impressive 2,819 runs across 141 matches, but his batting average was only 23.88. He kicked off his career with Delhi Capitals in 2012; got a title with Mumbai Indians in 2013, and then went to Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he had some of the most successful seasons, such as 513 runs in 15 matches in 2021.

Maxwell underlined the positive effects of the IPL on his career and personal growth. “The IPL has been a defining factor in my career which I consider a win-win situation for me as I am getting to learn from world-class players, play for amazing franchises, and get the attention of fans whose enthusiasm is no less than that of the players. The good times, the tough times and the lively atmosphere of India will always be in my memory. Thanks for being with me all these years, I hope to see you soon,” he remarked.

Maxwell's performance has not been at par in every season, yet he continues to be one of the most sought-after T20 players with a maximum auction price of Rs 14.25 crore in 2021. In the seasons that followed, he managed to make only limited contributions like scoring 169 runs in 12 matches for Delhi Capitals in 2018 and in 2024 for RCB, he scored just 52 runs in nine innings after which he was let go.

The mini-auction for IPL 2026 will see 1,355 players registered which is the current scenario. Out of those 45 players have quoted their base price of Rs 2 crore which includes Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone, Venkatesh Iyer, and Matheesha Pathirana. The deadlines for shortlisting are set by December 5 with 77 slots up for grabs across 10 franchises.