Swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will miss Australia’s upcoming tour of South Africa owing to an elbow injury, Cricket Australia confirmed on February 12 (Wednesday). The cricketer was originally named in both ODI and T20Is squad as he was hoping to make a comeback since his break but Maxwell will have to wait longer for a comeback. Moreover, he will also miss the initial phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 which will commence from March 29.

Glenn Maxwell, who played the entire Big Bash League with a troubled left elbow, is reported to have aggravated his injury over the weekend. The scans revealed that some loose fragments of bone within his elbow joint. He will now undergo surgery and is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. As a result, he might miss at least the start of the IPL.

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The Aussie all-rounder was roped in by Kings XI Punjab during the auctions last year by a hefty sum of Rs 10.75 Crore. Maxwell reunites with his former team which can yield results for the Kings XI, who continue their hunt for their maiden trophy. With the IPL 2020 likely to start in the last week of March, Maxwell is expected to miss 1 or 2 weeks of the upcoming season of the T20 league. Incidentally, Maxwell did not play IPL 2019 as he pulled out of the tournament in a bid to focus on sealing a permanent Test berth.

This will be a massive blow to Kings XI Punjab with Glenn Maxwell in superb form with the bat. Although Melbourne Stars lost the Big Bash League final to Sydney Sixers, Maxwell  398 runs at an average of 39.80, including three fifties.