Glenn Maxwell has been released by Kings XI Punjab for IPL 2021 after his dismal show in IPL 2020. Maxwell, who was purchased for a staggering sum of 10.75 crore, failed to set the stage alight last season, and hence has been released by the franchise. Aside from Maxwell, the franchise has also released Sheldon Cottrell, who was purchased for 8.50 crore last season. Cottrell was benched after failing to impress in the first half of the season.
Jimmy Neesham, who was bought for his base price of 50 lakh, has also been released, as has Krishnappa Gowtham.
One of the more significant releases is also that of young Afghan spinner Mujeeeb ur Rahman, who was benched last season to accommodate M Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi. Karun Nair, who was bought for a hefty sum by the franchise in the 2018 auctions and has failed to live up to expectations, has also been let go. Being tagged among flops of the IPL season in the UAE, Maxwell managed to score just 108 runs. He had a dismal average of 15.52 and a below-par strike rate of 101.88 in 13 games, ending his abysmal IPL 2020 campaign without hitting a single six.
List of retained players by Kings XI Punjab
KL Rahul (c), Mandeep Singh, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Gayle, Prabhsimran Singh, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, Harpreet Brar, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Ishan Porel, Murugan Ashwin
List of released players by Kings XI Punjab
Glenn Maxwell, Sheldon Cottrell, K Gowtham, Mueeb ur Rahman, Jimmy Neesham, Hardus Viljoen, and Karun Nair.
