Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has vowed to play in the IPL “until he can’t walk anymore”.

The 35-year-old played a massive role in Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning campaign in India. In the group match against Afghanistan, a cramping Maxwell hobbled for a large part of his innings to single-handedly take his team to victory, scoring an unbeaten 201 off 128 balls. Back home now, midway through the just-concluded T20I series against India, Maxwell will return once again to don the Royal Challengers Bangalore colours in next year’s IPL.

“The IPL will probably be the last tournament I ever play, as I will play the IPL until I can’t walk anymore,” Maxwell was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press at the Melbourne Airport on Wednesday.

“I was talking about how good the IPL has been to me throughout my career, the people I’ve met, the coaches I have played under, the international players that you get to rub shoulders with, how beneficial to my whole career that tournament has been.

“You’re rubbing shoulders with AB (de Villiers) and Virat (Kohli) for two months, talking to them while watching other games. It’s just the greatest learning experience that any player could ask for,” he said.

Maxwell feels Australian cricketers should play in the IPL for experience ahead of the T20 World Cup in June.

“Hopefully, a lot of our Australian players can get over to the IPL and get to work in slightly similar conditions to the West Indies, where it is a little bit drier, it will spin.”

Maxwell will return to action as Melbourne Stars captain in the Big Bash League (BBL) opener against Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Thursday.

After winning the ODI World Cup, Australia are now looking to reclaim the T20 world title.

“As soon as we won this World Cup, we all talked about the refocus towards the next one,” Maxwell said. “I’m hoping it’s going be a really exciting summer for the BBL, with what is just around the corner.”

Written with PTI inputs