Hopefully see you soon: Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell pulls out of IPL 2026 auction
Maxwell last played for Punjab Kings under captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting, but a finger injury forced him to miss the season.
PTC News Desk: Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Tuesday confirmed that he will not be participating in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, signalling that he has already played his final match in the T20 tournament. Maxwell is the latest high-profile player after Andre Russell and Faf du Plessis to pull out of the mini-auction, scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
Maxwell took to social media and announced his big decision after much deliberation.
"After many unforgettable seasons in the IPL, I've decided not to put my name into the auction this year. It's a big call, and one I make with a lot of gratitude for everything this league has given me," Maxwell said.
The Australian star cricketer could have earned a huge amount at the auction, especially since there are very few top overseas all-rounders available after Andre Russell retired from the IPL to become a ‘power coach’ for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Maxwell last played for Punjab Kings under captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting, but a finger injury forced him to miss the season. He was bought by Punjab Kings for ₹4.2 crore in the mega auction, beating bids from Chennai Super Kings and SunRisers Hyderabad.
However, Maxwell did not perform as expected. He scored only 48 runs in six innings and was mostly used as a bowler. After the season, Maxwell hinted that he might retire from the IPL.
He said the IPL had been hugely important in shaping him as a player and a person, and that he was grateful for the chance to play with world-class teammates and passionate fans. “The memories, challenges and the energy of India will stay with me forever. Thank you for your support over the years, hope to see you soon,” he said.
Maxwell scored 2,819 runs at an average of 23.88 in 141 IPL matches. He started his IPL journey with Delhi Capitals in 2012 and won the title with Mumbai Indians in 2013. He then had an up-and-down run with Punjab Kings from 2014 to 2017, before getting a big deal with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2021. At RCB, he finally performed more consistently, scoring 513, 301 and 400 runs in his first three seasons.
Teams have often spent huge amounts for Maxwell — his highest auction price came in 2021 when RCB bought him for ₹14.25 crore.