Jake Fraser-McGurk’s, the young Australian batter, has experienced a rollercoaster ride in his two IPL seasons. In his debut year, stepping in as a late replacement, he dazzled with a strike rate of 234, amassing 330 runs—the highest strike rate for any player facing at least 50 balls in an IPL season. However, IPL 2025 has been a stark contrast, with the opener struggling to make an impact, surviving the Powerplay only once in six innings.
His run tally of 55 after six innings places him among the lowest-scoring openers in IPL history, with only five others recording fewer runs at this stage. This dip follows a tough period, where he averaged just 15.91 across 24 innings since the last IPL, signaling a challenging phase for the talented batter.
Aerial Shots: Strength Turned Weakness
Fraser-McGurk’s aggressive, lofted shots defined his 2024 season, where he hit 54 of 141 balls in the air, scoring at a blistering 409.25 strike rate. Yet, this approach has become a liability in 2025, with 14 of his 15 IPL dismissals being catches. This season, he’s managed to hit only 12 of 52 balls aerially, getting dismissed six times—five by seamers and one by a spinner.
Bowlers Adapt to Fraser-McGurk’s Style
Bowlers have cracked the code to counter Jake Fraser-McGurk’s baseball-inspired swing. In 2024, teams began placing fielders like long-on to tempt him into risky shots, often leading to miscues. This season, fast bowlers have bowled wider lines, moving the ball away from his hitting zone. For instance, in a match against LSG, Shardul Thakur’s delivery swung 2.57 degrees away, resulting in a catch at long-off. Similarly, Khaleel Ahmed’s angled deliveries against CSK forced a miscued shot. Seamers have increased their outside-off deliveries from 58% in 2024 to 64.3% in 2025, restricting Fraser-McGurk to a scoring rate of 66.67 against these lines.
Time for a Comeback
Despite his struggles, Fraser-McGurk’s team has maintained a strong campaign, but the clock is ticking for the youngster to regain his form. With bowlers exploiting his technique, he faces the challenge of adapting and elevating his game to reclaim his spot as a game-changer in the IPL.