"He is still better than Maxwell" - Harbhajan Singh's blunt remark on Aussie all-rounder after RCB announce retention list ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has made a bold claim about Glenn Maxwell, keeping in mind the IPL 2026 auction. With Liam Livingstone as one of the players released by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Harbhajan predicted the Englishman to get picked in the auction again, claiming that he is better than Maxwell.

Both Livingstone and Maxwell were released by RCB and the Punjab Kings, respectively. Although RCB had lifted the title this year, it wasn't enough for the England all-rounder to be retained as he managed only 112 runs in eight innings. Maxwell, meanwhile, scraped through to 48 runs in his seven outings before being injured.

Speaking in the latest video on his YouTube channel 'Harbhajan Turbanator Singh,' the 45-year-old said (3:10):

"Mumbai Indians have traded in three players. Arjun Tendulkar has been traded out to Lucknow Super Giants. RCB have released Liam Livingstone, Swastik Chitkara, Mayank Agarwal, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarbani and Mohit Rathi. They have a huge purse and it remains to be seen who they pick in the auction." "Livingstone will probably get picked again and always does like Glenn Maxwell. He is still better than Maxwell," he added.

Maxwell, who recently returned from an injury, could still bag a deal in the auction on December 15. However, the Victorian might have to take a massive pay cut. He is also a useful spinner and a gun fielder.

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"He will play as a pure batter" - Harbhajan Singh on Sanju Samson

Harbhajan Singh. (Image Credits: Getty)

In the same video, Harbhajan Singh expressed his surprise with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) trading Ravindra Jadeja. Although Sanju Samson is now part of the Super Kings, the former CSK spinner reckons he will not keep wickets. The 103-Test veteran elaborated:

"CSK released Matheesha Pathirana, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Shaikh Rasheed and Kamlesh Nagarkoti. They traded out Ravindra Jadeja. Can you imagine a player like Jadeja traded?" "Sam Curran too was traded to the Royals and they brought Sanju Samson to the team. I feel Ruturaj Gaikwad will continue to captain and Samson might not even play as a keeper-batter because MS Dhoni is the keeper. So, he will play as a pure batter," he added.

The Super Kings finished at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2025.

Edited by Parag Jain