'Only You Could Do This': Virat Kohli Pens Heart-warming Message to 'Freak' Glenn Maxwell

The entire cricketing world bowed down to Glenn Maxwell for his miraculous innings against Afghanistan on Tuesday night. Chasing a tricky 292, the Aussies were reduced to 91/7 when Maxwell took the matter into his hands and not only bailed his team out of a precarious situation but also sealed a semi-final spot for Australia. He scored became the first Australian male batter to score an ODI double-hundred, returning unbeaten on 201. He stitched a 202-run partnership with skipper Pat Cummins and did all the heavy lifting himself.

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While the legends of the game heaped massive praise on Maxwell, his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate Virat Kohli took to Instagram on Wednesday and posted a heart-warming message. Sharing a picture of the Australian batter, Kohli wrote,

“Only you could do this. Freak.”

Later in the day, Maxwell took to microblogging site X to thank every person who congratulated him for playing a stupendous knock, snatching the victory away from the jaws of Afghanistan.

“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.

An exhausted Maxwell called the Tuesday night “his own” after pulling off a superhuman effort.

“It would have been nice if it was a chanceless knock, but I had my chances, to make the most of it tonight was something I can be proud of,” Maxwell said at the post-match presentation ceremony, referring to a couple of catches that Afghans dropped when Aussies were placed precariously.

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Maxwell was a touch cross with critics who had written the Australians off after back-to-back defeats in the first two games against India and South Africa.

“Amazing, after the first two games, people were quick to write us off. The belief was always there (as a team), after today, it would have gone a bit higher. It was hot while fielding today, I haven’t done a lot of exercise in the heat, it got a hold on me today. I wanted to stay back and get some movement (on my legs),” he said.

Maxwell said that he had no option but to remain positive when his side was staring at an embarrassing defeat after being reduced to 92 for 7.

“Not too much (plans), just stick to the batting plans as much as possible, for me, still be positive, still look to play my shots,” he said.