Fraser-McGurk under pressure ahead of IPL season

Jake Fraser-McGurk is under pressure as he prepares for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. After a successful debut last year, he has struggled with his batting recently. The Australian batter made a strong impression during his first season, scoring 330 runs in nine games. He had an impressive strike rate of 234.04, becoming one of the most exciting players in the league. However, Fraser-McGurk's performance has declined sharply. Over the last few months, he has only managed to score 382 runs in 24 innings at an average of 15.91 and a strike rate of 136.91. Despite these struggles, the Delhi Capitals have retained him and are confident in his abilities, keeping him for INR 9 crore before the auction. As he aims to earn a spot in Australia's 2026 T20 World Cup squad, the upcoming IPL season is crucial for Fraser-McGurk. He is expected to open the innings with Faf du Plessis when the Delhi Capitals kick off their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday. Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has urged Fraser-McGurk to start strong. He noted that IPL teams do not tolerate poor results for long. Gilchrist believes Fraser-McGurk can succeed if he capitalizes on the batting-friendly conditions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He stresses the importance of maintaining a level head during play. Fraser-McGurk's first-class career is also facing challenges, with limited chances in South Australia's Sheffield Shield team. As T20 cricket becomes more dominant, balancing different formats is becoming harder for players.