IPL 2017: Glenn Maxwell replaces Murali Vijay as the captain of Kings XI Punjab – Maxwell will follow the footsteps of George Bailey, David Hussey, and Adam Gilchrist.
Glenn Maxwell
For the tenth season of Indian Premier League, Kings XI Punjab have selected Aussie Glenn Maxwell to lead the team. This makes him third player from Down Under to wear captain’s hat after Steve Smith and David Warner.
Glenn Maxwell is replacing Team India’s current Test opener, Murali Vijay. Steve Smith is skipper for Rising Pune Super Giant and David Warner led the team of Sunrisers Hyderabad last year which won IPL 9.
Kings XI Punjab took to Twitter to make the announcement on Thursday.
With fireworks in his batting, bowling & fielding it's time to unleash the Captain in him.
The King of our Pride this season – @Gmaxi_32! pic.twitter.com/HkAEYtft9w
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) March 9, 2017
KXIP has English skipper Eoin Morgan, West Indies T20 captain Darren Sammy, and Proteas veteran Hashim Amla on the roster. This is what makes Maxwell’s selection for captaincy a surprise. What adds to it that Maxwell was left out of the KXIP side for stretches of last edition of the tournament.
Currently, Maxwell is vying to take Mitchell Marsh’s place in the Australian playing XI for the third Test. Because of a shoulder injury, Marsh is ruled out of the remaining two Tests taking place in Ranchi and Dharamshala, respectively.
India will play Australia for the third Test on JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on Thursday, March 16.
