New Delhi: Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell on Thursday reignited the debate about the milestone-driven mentality of Indian batsman.
Speaking to Wisden India, the explosive right-hander highlighted the difference in approach between Virat Kohli and David Warner when they neared the three-figure mark.
"I was sent a photo the other day, it said Virat was 84 off 63, and then 100 off 89 or something like that. He got his last 11 runs off 22 balls to get his hundred,” said Maxwell, referring to Kohli's knock in the 4th ODI at the Manuka Oval.
“I thought about that and I was like, ‘Jeez he did it so easily all the way up until then, and then you just lose a bit of momentum’. I have been thinking about that. Then you look on the other hand, when you watch David Warner get into the 90s and he tries to hit Ishant Sharma for a slog-sweep for six. It’s just, to me, that’s two complete different ends of the spectrum,” he further added.
Maxwell first made a reference to this after the 3rd ODI, when he played a match-winning knock of 96 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“They were probably just making sure they got to a milestone,” he had said blandly. “Some people are milestone driven, some people aren’t. If it means that much to you, you go for it. But it’s not something that drives me too much. Each to their own,” Maxwell replied when asked if he thought the Indian batsmen were playing more ‘selfishly’ while nearing their centuries.
So far India's top order has scored five centuries (Dhawan, Kohli (2) and Sharma (2)), but failed to win a single match.
The fifth and final ODI will be played in Sydney, with Team India aiming for a consolation win ahead of the three-match T20 series.
