Glenn Maxwell and Liam Livingstone, two foreign players, were harshly criticised by former Indian opener Virender Sehwag for their poor showings in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). The former cricket player claimed that instead of making a significant contribution to their teams, players like them travel to India only to take vacations and kill time during the IPL season.
Following a run of subpar batsmanship and ball performance, Maxwell (Punjab Kings) and Livingstone (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) were both dropped by their respective teams. They never had a big influence on the competition this year.
The 46-year-old went on to say that the pair lacked motivation and had no sincere desire to bring home medals for their clubs. The cricket player, who was born in Delhi, acknowledged that their attention appeared to be more on having fun and partying than on enhancing their play or assisting their teams in winning.
Livingstone and Maxwell are no longer hungry. They travel to India for vacations. It’s not as though they have a deep affection for their clubs or a strong desire to win games for them. “They need to finish this year because they haven’t won a trophy yet,” Sehwag stated.
“I’ve played with many guys from other countries, and perhaps one or two of them were hungry. “These other guys don’t perform on the pitch; they just talk,” he continued.
Sehwag praises a few international celebrities for their expertise and devotion.
The right-handed batter gave former international players David Warner and AB de Villiers high marks for their dedication, skill, and adherence to the game’s rules. They were the outlier among foreign cricket players, who always played with intent and emotion, according to the former opening batsman.
“The three guys who used to tell me, ‘I will win games for you, play me,’ are Glenn McGrath, AB de Villiers, and David Warner. There was a time when I was preoccupied with who I should drop and who I should play. However, I’ve witnessed other athletes, such as West Indians and Sri Lankans, enquire, “Where’s the party tonight?” following the semi-finals. You can then tell who is here to relax and who wants to take home trophies,” Sehwag said.
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