The Glenn Maxwell-PBKS story has taken another turn and it did not surprise many people this time. Punjab Kings let go of the Australian all-rounder ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction.
Maxwell barely featured in IPL 2025 after injuring his finger midway through the season. Even before that, his runs were not coming. And Punjab could not carry a senior player who was not able to match the rhythm.
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Following which, Glenn Maxwell has officially opted out of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, ending weeks of speculation about his next franchise.
Recovering from a fractured finger sustained during the 2025 season, the Australian all-rounder confirmed on Instagram that he would not enter the auction, calling it a “big call” made with gratitude for everything the league has given him.
His name was absent from the longlist released for the Abu Dhabi auction, which features 77 available slots. Maxwell, who debuted in 2012 and became known as the “Big Show,” leaves behind a career marked by unforgettable highs despite recent inconsistencies.
Thus, no team could buy Glenn Maxwell at the IPL 2026 mini auction.
Why did PBKS move on from Maxwell?
Head coach Ricky Ponting even explained the reason for releasing the Australian on retention deadline day. Ponting said he likes Maxwell and loves the energy he brings, but the team just did not get anything out of him last season.
After reviewing the players they wanted to use next season, PBKS decided that Maxwell no longer fit into their first-choice plans.
READ: Can teams trade players even after the IPL 2026 retention deadline and before the mini auction?
"Love Glenn and what he brings to the game. Unfortunately, last year we weren’t able to get the best out of him," Ponting told Star Sports.
"Looking ahead to this season, we didn’t feel he would be part of our starting team, so we decided to release him," he added.
Maxwell’s IPL 2025 run was rough from start to finish. He barely scored across the season and made just 48 runs in six innings and he picked up only four wickets
PBKS had picked him for ₹4.2 crore last auction, hoping the old fireworks would return, but things never clicked.
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