IPL 2021 AUCTION
They have been flatmates in Melbourne, have played together for over a decade, initially for their state Victoria, then for the baggy green cap.
And both, Glenn Maxwell and his Australia T20 skipper Aaron Finch were released by their respective Indian Premier League teams after the 13th edition got over in November 2020 in the United Arab Emirates.
The release, announced in January 2021 by the eight teams competing in the IPL, also had other big names including Steve Smith.
On Thursday, 18 February 2021, Maxwell who was let go by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) became the X-Factor purchase for the IPL trophy-less Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by all-format India skipper Virat Kohli.
Maxwell's price: A whopping Rupees 14.25 crore (about U.S.$2 million).
Finch's price: Unsold (IPL future literally over).
Finch was dumped by RCB, who splashed out a large fund from their kitty for allrounder Maxwell instead.
Their story makes interesting reading. They know each other as much as they know cricket.
In an interview with ESPN Cricinfo few days ago, Maxwell said this of Finch: "It's been nice to have someone who's followed a similar journey and we're still going together.
"I know how happy for me he was when I made my Test debut and vice versa when he made his. But I think we were living together from around 2012, and to be on the same one-day and T20 journey together at that stage and then eventually make our Test debuts was pretty cool.
There was a lot of watching cricket in the house and talking tactics and all that sort of thing."
They even played for the same county, Yorkshire. Finch had played a season for Yorkshire in the 2014. Maxwell joined him there the next season. "Having Maxi playing alongside me will be terrific. He is a true competitor and loves the shorter form of the game," Finch had said then.
Later, both players missed their opening 11th edition IPL match for their respective teams as Finch was the groom and Maxwell the emcee.
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| Maxwell's post on his Instagram profile |
Australian publication Cricket.com.au had reported: "Both Finch and close friend Glenn Maxwell, who was emcee of the wedding, will miss their respective IPL side's season-openers because of the wedding. Kings XI Punjab (who purchased Finch for A$1.2million at January's auction) and the Delhi Daredevils (who bought Maxwell for $1.75m) face off on Sunday (8.30pm AEST)."
As recently as 2020, the ICC shared a video to showcase Friendship Day that had Maxwell and Finch combine to take a catch that saw the back of Mark Wood in an Australia-England 2019 World Cup tie.
Tag the friend who's always got your back đ #FriendshipDaypic.twitter.com/vZdb87DeSi
— ICC (@ICC) July 30, 2020
After Maxwell's name went under the hammer at the ITC Grand Chola Hotel in Chennai on Thursday, 18 Feb, 2021, the flamboyant player tweeted this:
Looking forward to joining @RCBTweets for this years @IPL
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) February 18, 2021
Can’t wait to put everything I have in to helping us lift the trophy!
His dear friend Finch, meanwhile, spent his time supporting a request for a social cause:
@AaronFinch5 be great if you could give a shout out to a movements which is raising money for the fight against cancer. https://t.co/SA61tQCGKn
— Brendan Gunn (@BrendanGunn_) February 18, 2021
Mick is walking 500kms dressed as Elvis to raise awareness and funds.#elviswalkaforcancer
All proceeds going to Cancer Council Aust.
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