IPL 2021: Amit Mishra continues to haunt Glenn Maxwell, dismisses him for fifth time

Delhi Capitals leg-spinner Amit Mishra has previously been very successful against Royal Challengers Bangalore all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. As it turns out, things were no different when the two sides met in an IPL 2021 encounter at Ahmedabad on Tuesday (April 27).

Mishra has been in a rich vein of form in recent times, as has Maxwell. Therefore there was always some degree of intrigue as the two faced off for the first time in IPL 2021.

Yet as has previously been the case, it was the bowler who emerged victorious from the battle. Mishra had been smacked for a six by Maxwell in his first over.

But Mishra came back strong in the second over. He tossed one up and wide of off stump. Maxwell went for the slog but only succeeded in giving a simple catch to Steve Smith at long-on.

This meant that Mishra has now dismissed Maxwell five times in IPL history; an amazing feat considering how Maxwell can hit spinners at will.

Mishra has been in decent nick for DC this season, having taken 6 wickets as of this article’s writing. Maxwell, however, has been in excellent form in an RCB side that look like the real deal this year.

Maxwell currently sits right up among the top 3 run-scorers this season. The ‘Big Show’ has previously struggled in the IPL but looks to have found his rhythm this season.

IPL 2021 sees Covid-related withrawals

The same cannot, however, be said about the IPL this year. While the delayed edition in 2020 was well-received, this year’s edition has seen a number of high-profile pull-outs.

DC’s own Ravichandran Ashwin was the first to do so. Australian players Kane Richardson, Adamn Zampa and Andrew Tye were quick to follow suit.

Tye, in fact, spoke about how it felt wrong that the IPL was even taking place despite India’s Covid-19 caseload rising and thus choking the healthcare system.

It remains to be seen if any more players will pull out from the tournament. However, the BCCI has defended the decision to host the tournament even as India deals with a crippling second coronavirus wave.