Former Indian cricket icon Virender Sehwag has strongly criticised overseas players Glenn Maxwell and Liam Livingstone for their underperformances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, accusing them of treating the high-profile tournament as a vacation rather than a competitive challenge.
Both players were left out of their respective teams' line-ups on Sunday following a series of disappointing outings.
Punjab Kings dropped Glenn Maxwell, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) opted to replace Liam Livingstone with West Indian all-rounder Romario Shepherd.
The exclusions came as a direct consequence of their poor form and apparent lack of intent, according to Sehwag.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag did not mince words.
"It seems like Maxwell and Livingstone have lost their hunger. They come to India for the IPL as if it’s a holiday for them. They enjoy and then they leave. There’s no evident desire to fight for the teams," he said.
Sehwag’s comments were particularly sharp in light of Maxwell’s meagre contribution of just 41 runs and four wickets this season, and Livingstone’s similarly dismal return of 87 runs.
The former Indian opener suggested that their lack of motivation is glaringly obvious and detrimental to their teams.
"I’ve spent time with numerous former players, but only one or two truly made me feel that they were genuinely motivated to do something for the team," Sehwag added, further questioning the overall commitment of some international cricketers in the IPL.
Maxwell, representing Punjab Kings, and Livingstone, a key figure for RCB in past seasons, had entered the tournament with high expectations.
However, both failed to deliver, prompting their teams to look for alternatives mid-season.