Ricky Ponting’s Delhi Capitals has signed young Aussie star Jake Fraser-McGurk as the replacement for Lungi Ngidi for the upcoming IPL 2024 season. The news for confirmed on Friday, a week out from the start of the tournament.
This will be Jake Fraser-McGurk’s maiden stint in the IPL. He joined Delhi at his base price of INR 50 lakh. This is, however, not his first association with the Capitals: Fraser-McGurk played three matches for the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 2024 in the UAE.
Lungi Ngidi, the South African pacer, suffered a back injury during the SA20 season earlier this year and is still recovering from it. He won’t be able to participate in the IPL 2024, with the T20 World Cup 2024 also in mind, and hence was ruled out from the cash-rich league in India.
This gave Ricky Ponting and Delhi Capitals an opportunity to sign Fraser-McGurk in their squad, although replacing a bowler with a batter is not common. But DC will have a chance to get in an overseas bowler as they also have to pick a replacement for Harry Brook, as the England batter has pulled out from the IPL since he wishes to be with his family in their tough period following the passing away of his grandmother.
Who Is Jake Fraser-McGurk?
Jake Fraser-McGurk is a 21-year-old Aussie sensation who put himself in the spotlight with impressive performances during the BBL 2023/24 season recently.
In the BBL this season, he blasted 257 runs at a terrific strike rate of 158. Jake Fraser-McGurk plays his white-ball cricket with a boom or bust approach; an ultra-aggressive mindset right from the start of his innings and his talent and skillset led Ricky Ponting to tout the youngster as a potential all-format star for Australia.
He earned his maiden call-ups to Australia’s ODI and T20I squads following a thunderous BBL season. On his ODI debut against West Indies, he smoked 41 off 18 balls to announce himself on the international stage. A great IPL season could also put him in contention for a place in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad.
