Glenn Maxwell Ruled Out of IPL 2025 Due to Finger Fracture

Punjab Kings have suffered a major setback as Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season due to a fractured finger. The injury was sustained during a practice session ahead of Punjab’s rain-hit clash against Kolkata Knight Riders.

CONFIRMATION AND STATEMENT FROM THE FRANCHISE

The franchise confirmed Maxwell’s exit on Thursday through their social media platforms, stating:  

> “Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to a finger injury. We wish him a speedy recovery.”

Maxwell's underwhelming performance this season saw him score just 48 runs across seven matches at an average of eight, though he managed to pick up four wickets. He was replaced by Suryansh Shedge in the lineup for the match against Chennai Super Kings, which Punjab Kings won by four wickets.

TEAMMATE’S INSIGHT ON THE INJURY

Fellow Australian and PBKS teammate Marcus Stoinis revealed that Maxwell initially underestimated the extent of the injury.  

> “Unfortunately, Maxi’s broken his finger. He thought it wasn’t too bad after it happened during training, but it turned out to be worse than expected after scans. Looks like he’s out for the tournament,” Stoinis shared in an interview with Jiostar.

COACH RICKY PONTING ON REPLACEMENTS AND TEAM STRATEGY

Punjab Kings' head coach Ricky Ponting addressed the media post-match and acknowledged the difficulty in finding a like-for-like replacement for Maxwell, especially given the current global cricket calendar.

> “We are actively looking for suitable replacements. With the squad we’ve got, we’re exploring internal options like Azmatullah, Aaron Hardie, and Xavier Bartlett, who are yet to get game time,” Ponting said.

He noted that conditions would dictate future selections, especially for matches in Dharamsala where bowlers may find more assistance from the pitch.

EXPLORING INDIAN TALENT

Ponting also emphasized the importance of scouting Indian talent due to limited availability of international players.

> “There aren't many high-quality international replacements available right now. So we’re taking a closer look at young Indian talent,” he said.  

> “Some players trained with us recently and will travel to Dharamsala. They could potentially earn a contract with Punjab Kings by the end of the week, ahead of our 12th game.”