Australia ke dhamakedar all-rounder Glenn Maxwell ne One Day International (ODI) cricket se retirement lene ka announcement kiya hai. 36 saal ke Maxwell ne kaha ki unki body ab 50-over format ka pressure nahi le sakti, isiliye unhone yeh decision liya. Ab wo sirf T20 cricket pe dhyan denge aur confirm kiya hai ki wo upcoming T20 World Cup ke liye available rahenge. Maxwell ka ODI career kaafi zabardast raha, jisme unhone 149 matches khele aur Australia ko 2015 aur 2023 ke World Cup jeetne mein badi role ada ki.
Ek Legendary ODI Career
Maxwell ne apna ODI debut 2012 mein Afghanistan ke against kiya tha, aur jaldi hi wo Australia ke sabse entertaining players mein count hone lage. Unhone 3,896 runs banaye ODI mein, average 34.30 aur strike rate 125.29 ke sath. Unki sabse yaadgar innings 2023 World Cup mein Afghanistan ke khilaf thi, jab unhone 201 not out banaye aur Australia ko 91/7 se 292 ka target chase karaya, wo bhi cramps aur fatigue ke bawajood.
Bowling mein bhi Maxwell ne 70 wickets liye apne off-spin se. Fielding ki baat karein to wo toh hamesha top level ki rahi — run-outs aur stunning catches unki pehchaan ban gayi thi.
2015 World Cup mein Maxwell ne bat aur ball dono se contribute kiya. 2023 ke World Cup mein unki double-century ne pura tournament hi turn kar diya. Maxwell ne khud kaha, “Do World Cup jeetna meri career ka pinnacle hai.”
Body ne bola, “Bas kar bhai!”
Maxwell ne bola ki ODI cricket ka physical demand ab unki body se handle nahi ho raha. 50-over ka format unke liye ab bahut tough ho gaya hai, especially unki style of play ke liye. 2022 mein unka pair toot gaya tha, uske baad se back aur hamstring injuries unko baar-baar bother kar rahi hain.
Unhone kaha, “Mujhe ODI cricket khelna hamesha pasand tha, lekin ab meri body keh rahi hai ki aur nahi ho payega. Main ab bhi cricket enjoy karna chahta hoon, isiliye T20 format best lagta hai mere liye.”
T20 World Cup: Agla Mission
ODI ko bye bolne ke baad ab Maxwell pure focus ke sath T20 cricket khelne wale hain. Wo T20 format mein bhi kaafi experienced hain — unke naam hai 2,710 runs in 113 matches, strike rate 154.39 ke sath, aur 43 wickets bhi.
Australia ke liye T20s mein wo ek match-winner hain — batting, bowling aur pressure mein calm rehna, sab kuch unke paas hai. Maxwell ne kaha, “Mujhe lagta hai ki main abhi bhi T20s mein team ko kaafi kuch de sakta hoon. T20 World Cup ek bada goal hai aur main excited hoon usme perform karne ke liye.”
Legacy: Big Show ka Impact
Maxwell ka ODI se retirement ek era ka end hai. Unka aggressive style, unka game-changing impact, aur unka fearless attitude fans ke dil mein hamesha zinda rahega. Off the field bhi Maxwell ne mental health pe khulkar baat ki, aur jab zarurat lagi toh break lekar apne aap ko priority di — jo kai athletes ke liye ek inspiration bana.
Cricket Australia ne unki tareef karte hue kaha, “Maxwell ne Australia ke liye ODI cricket mein jo contribute kiya hai, usko hum kabhi nahi bhoolenge. World Cups mein unka role legendary tha. Hum unke decision ka respect karte hain aur T20s mein unko phir se action mein dekhne ke liye excited hain.”
Ab jab “The Big Show” sirf T20s khelega, to fans ko ek baar phir uski match-winning magic dekhne ko milegi — aur T20 World Cup banega unka next blockbuster stage.
