IPL 2022: Virat Kohli playing without captaincy burden is dangerous news for oppositions, says Glenn Maxwell

IPL 2022: Glenn Maxwell, who shared a fine rapport with Virat Kohli, said he is excited to see a relaxed former captain who is measured with his emotions.

Royal Challengers Bangalore all-rounder Glenn Maxwell said Virat Kohli will certainly feel unburdened after having given up captaincy and a pressure-free Kohli will be 'dangerous news' to oppositions in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Virat Kohli stepped down as RCB captain after IPL 2021 and also gave up India's T20I captaincy. He was sacked as ODI captain before quitting Test captaincy earlier this year.

RCB appointed Faf du Plessis as their new captain after weeks of speculation and the new skipper said Virat Kohli's energy and leadership experience will be crucial to other team's chances in IPL 2022, starting March 26.

"He knows he's handing the captaincy over, which I think is potentially a big burden for him. It might have been something that's been weighing him down for a while and now that he's been able to release it, it might be dangerous news for opposition teams," Maxwell told RCB Podcast.

Maxwell, who shared a fine rapport with Kohli after signing fr RCB last year, said he is existed to see the relaxed version of Kohli, enjoy the next few years of his career without the burden of captaincy.

"It is amazing for him to be relaxed a bit and actually enjoy the next few years of his career without any of that sort of external pressure. I think playing against him in earlier days, he was a fiery competitor, getting in your face. He's always trying to impose himself on the game. Impose himself on the opposition."

The Australian all-rounder is loving the cricketing conversations he is having with Kohli and is himself surprised that the former India skipper has become a close friend.