Maxwell 'frustrated' by IPL form: Ponting

Maxwell, who statistically had one of his worst T20 campaigns compiling just 169 runs in 12 attempts, was well-below his expected output during the 2018 Indian Premier League season.

Though his coach believes the emergence of youngster Rishabh Pant – who leads all-comers with 684 runs including five half-centuries and a century – was a driving factor in the 29-year-old's reduced output.

"I think the thing that hurt him the most is just how well Rishabh played," Ponting explained.

"Before the first game I had Glenn Maxwell pencilled in as our No.4 batsman. He missed the first game for personal reasons obviously, with Aaron Finch's wedding, which meant Rishabh batted at No.4 in game one and played well.

"When Glenn came back into the side he batted at five which is probably a position that he hasn't played that much."

In his 210 T20 matches, Maxwell has batted at No.5 in 48 innings for an average of 24.20. Those numbers jump slightly when he is elevated to No.4, batting 74 times there at an average of 26.80.

Statistically, Maxwell's most fruitful position in T20 cricket is opening, where his average jumps from 25.4 to a whopping 34, but the damaging batsmen featured at the top of Delhi's order just three times this season.

"Having spoken to (Maxwell) a few times through the tournament, he just said he felt frustrated that he'd hadn't been able to make an impact on the result of the game for his team," Ponting said.

"He's an outstanding cricketer there's no doubt about that, he's had a disappointing IPL this season."