Glenn Maxwell cost Royal Challengers Bangalore over $2.5 million in the IPL auction - but the rejuvenated Australian allrounder is quickly proving he's worth every rupee after inspiring them to a second straight victory.
Virat Kohli's RCB ran out as six-run winners over David Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad in Wednesday's nail-biter, thanks largely to a dazzling 59 off 41 balls from new boy Maxwell - remarkably, his first half-century in the IPL for five years.
Maxwell had looked a bit of a busted flush in last year's edition in the Middle East when he was subsequently released by Punjab Kings.
But the 32-year-old, snapped up after a bidding war to play for his fourth different IPL franchise, has begun like a man inspired for RCB, having already helped them win their opening match against champions Mumbai Indians with a brisk 39.
He didn't hit a single six last season but Maxwell has now already clouted five in his first two IPL outings this season and is only 10 runs short of the 108 runs he tallied in 13 innings in the previous edition.
He even got the better of his Test teammate Warner, the captain of the Sunrisers who was also in fine form with his 49th fifty in the IPL but who, after being out for 54, then saw his side slide alarmingly from 1-96 to 9-143 while chasing down RCB's 8-149.
Collecting his player of the match award in Chennai, Maxwell was all smiles as he said: "To start like this with a new franchise has been really nice but to contribute to two wins has probably been the most satisfying thing.
"Having AB (de Villiers) behind you in the order gives you a bit more freedom to play your shots, gives me time to get myself in and that's a very similar role I play for the Australian team - so that's been great.
"It's my fourth IPL team and there's obviously a bit of pressure on me for me, so to turn up and make my impact straight away was really key."
After Kohli had opened with a breezy 33, Maxwell maintained the impetus of the innings on a tricky wicket, hitting five fours to go with his trio of maximums while de Villiers and fellow Australian Dan Christian were both getting dismissed for one.
Warner, whose 83-run second wicket partnership with Manish Pandey looked set to steer Sunrisers to a comfortable win, looked frustrated when he holed out to Christian at long on off New Zealand paceman Kyle Jamieson.
Left arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed then took three wickets in the 17th over to quite transform the complexion of the game, with Warner admitting afterwards: "It's a very big bitter pill to swallow. Obviously, Maxi batted well, but our bowlers did well to restrict them."
Maxwell looks like a man who's enjoying himself again and he couldn't help laughing when it was suggested to him that he hasn't even had a bowl for RCB yet.
"The more I don't bowl and the more I can contribute with the bat, the happier I'll be," he smiled.
