In a breathtaking turn of events, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell unleashed an astounding unbeaten 201-run onslaught against Afghanistan, securing a spot for his team in the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-finals. The cricketing world is still abuzz with Maxwell’s electrifying performance at Wankhede Stadium.

Virat Kohli, who shares the cricket field with Maxwell as teammates at Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, took to social media to express his awe at Maxwell’s phenomenal knock. Kohli, acknowledging Maxwell’s extraordinary talents, wrote,

“Only you could do this, freak @gmaxi_32,”

in an Instagram story.

Maxwell himself was not immune to the overwhelming response, taking to Twitter to express his gratitude:

“Pretty overwhelmed with all the Thank you so much to everyone that has sent messages. @patcummins30 was amazing out there! Sorry I knocked back a couple Time to get back to dad duties,” Maxwell wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

While Maxwell’s performance was outstanding, he did have a couple of close calls, notably when Afghan fielders, particularly Mujeeb ur Rahman, dropped him before he reached a half-century. Maxwell acknowledged that a flawless innings would have been ideal but expressed his pride in making the most of the opportunity.

“While fielding today, the scorching heat took me by surprise. I hadn’t acclimated to such conditions, and it got the better of me. I felt the need to pause and get my legs moving again. When asked about our plans at 92/7, I didn’t change much; I aimed to adhere to our batting strategies, maintain a positive mindset, and continue playing my shots. The LBW decision was a close call, with the ball just grazing above the stumps, prompting me to become more proactive. There was a subtle hint of swing and nip off the surface, particularly under the evening lights, and our opponents bowled brilliantly to exploit those conditions. While it would have been ideal for my innings to be without a blemish, I did have a couple of chances. Nevertheless, I take pride in capitalizing on those opportunities tonight. It’s truly amazing how, after the first two games, people were quick to write us off. However, our team’s unwavering belief was always intact, and today’s performance has elevated that belief even higher,”

Maxwell shared during the post-match presentation ceremony.