‘Best ODI knock I’ve seen in my life’- Sachin Tendulkar heaps praises for Glenn Maxwell after Afghanistan double-century

Glenn Maxwell played a once-in-a-lifetime innings against Afghanistan to get Australia over the line and into the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Maxwell’s innings in Mumbai were an example of sheer grit and resolve. Australia was down and out at one stage with 91 for the loss of the 7 wickets, but the ‘Big Show’ Glenn Maxwell had some other plans.

Maxwell annihilated the Afghanistan bowling attack both single-handedly and single-footed as in the later stages he was able to barely walk because of cramps but his hand and strong wrists were enough to send the ball out of the park and hit a double century while chasing down Australia’s highest target in World Cup history.

Such was the magnitude of the innings that one of the greatest batters and leading run-scorers of all-time in ODIs ‘Sachin Tendulkar went on to call it the best ODI innings he had seen to date. Sachin tweeted, “From Max pressure to Max performance! This has been the best ODI knock I’ve seen in my life”.

You know you have done something special when even your fiercest rivals cannot stop themselves from praising you. England’s premier all-rounder Ben Stokes tweeted, “My goodness Maxi,” expressing his disbelief over Maxwell's innings, whereas England’s former captain Micheal Vaughn was also all praises for Glenn Maxwell.

He tweeted, “One of the greatest individual performances on a cricket field. One of the greatest innings one would ever see. A great lesson to Never Give Up. Take a bow, Glenn Maxwell. That was quite incredible.”

Maxwell snatched victory from the jaws of defeat

Maxwell's squash buckling innings propelled Australia to win from 91 to 7 while chasing a stiff target of 292 runs. It is Australia’s highest run chase in World Cups. Maxwell webbed a 200 runs partnership with Pat Cummings in which the latter contributed just 12 runs.

Amid all the cramps and the medical interruptions, Maxwell put up a spectacle at the Wankhede by hitting his first double-ton and the third one in World Cup history after Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill. What makes it even more special is that it is the first time that a No.5 batter has achieved this feat.

Maxwell has his share of luck as he survived an LBW decision on DRS and was dropped twice by Mujeeb ur Rahman and Hashmatullah Shahidi. He then made full use of his chances and made the Afghanistan team for their poor show in the field. Australia has now qualified for the semi-finals and has become the third team to qualify for the knockouts courtesy of Glenn Maxwell’s heroics.