Glenn Maxwell for Australia. Image Credits: X
Australia’s group stage exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 raised a lot of questions about the underperforming players, and experts asked for a squad revamp. Among the players who are presumed to be on the exit ramp is Glenn Maxwell, who recently turned 37 and has been blowing hot and cold for a while now.
However, despite his age and underperformances, it is learnt that the legendary white-ball star is not thinking of calling it a day in international cricket yet. He has already retired from the ODIs but is willing to extend his T20I career for the foreseeable future.
Glenn Maxwell to continue playing T20Is
Heading into the T20 World Cup, many believed it would be the last assignment for the explosive middle-order batter, considering he will be 39 in the next edition. As things stand, Code Sports’ report suggests that the player could be willing to play the 2028 tournament, which Australia and New Zealand will host.
It is not explicitly stated yet, but the return of cricket at the LA Olympic Games 2028 could also be on his radar, as it is on Steve Smith’s wish list.
Australia’s premature T20 World Cup exit
The injury-laden Aussie team rocked up to Sri Lanka for the group stages of the competition without the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. Furthermore, they missed their captain, Mitchell Marsh, in their first two matches, and Steve Smith was added to the squad.
Having defeated Ireland by 67 runs in their tournament opener, things drastically went south for them against Zimbabwe. The Africans pulled off the first upset of the tournament after scoring 169/2 before running through the Australian batting. Courtesy of Blessing Muzarabani’s 4/17 and Brad Evans’ 3/23, they was bundled for 146 runs.
Facing Sri Lanka in a must-win encounter, they went from 104/0 in 8.3 overs to 181 all out, getting outdone by Pathum Nissanka’s masterful 100* (52) and Kusal Mendis’ 51 (38), knocking them out. They will face Oman in their final match, which will be a dead rubber and only a chance to salvage a couple of points in Pallekele.
Can Maxwell continue at the highest level?
In the ongoing edition of the tournament, Glenn Maxwell contributed with 9 (12), 31 (32) and 22 (16) in the first three matches against Ireland, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, respectively. Although he struggled to get going, he was among the only couple of middle-order bats to have shown temperament in the tough situations.
It is noteworthy that, since the end of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Glenn Maxwell has scored 297 runs in 14 innings, striking at 151.53. His best came in a winning chase against South Africa in August 2025, scoring 62* (36) with 8 fours and two sixes.
He struggled to get going in the recent BBL season, getting only 76 runs in 8 innings, and what could get difficult for him is that he has pulled out of the IPL. The lack of top-level game time and ageing can make things challenging for him. However, Australia don't have a replacement ready for him, so they might stick with him for a while, but 2028 seems like a long shot.
