Glenn Maxwell, with a disappointing average of 5.33 over six IPL 2024 innings, chose to pause for mental and physical recuperation before Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday.
Previously, in July 2020, the Australian all-rounder took an indefinite break during a T20I series, citing severe mental and physical exhaustion. “I was pretty cooked when I decided to take the time off. A big reason why I took that time away is I was pretty mentally and physically ruined,” Maxwell explained upon his return in December of that year. His decision reflects a growing recognition among cricketers of the importance of mental health. This time, he’s opted for an early break, stating, “I have been in this situation in the past where you can keep playing and get yourself deeper into a hole. I think now is actually a good time for me to give myself a bit of a mental and physical break, get my body right. If I’m required to get in during the tournament, I can hopefully get back into a really solid mental and physical space where I can still have an impact.”
The article also discusses other cricketers like Virat Kohli, who took a one-month break during a tough phase before roaring back to form with his 71st international hundred following the break. Jonathan Trott withdrew from the 2013 Ashes after one Test due to severe stress and anxiety, eventually quitting international cricket two years later. Ben Stokes and Marcus Trescothick are other notable players who have taken breaks for mental health reasons, with Stokes returning after six months and Trescothick retiring after battling depression.
