The Delhi Capitals (DC) may have found a glimmer of hope in Jake Fraser-McGurk again. After a disastrous IPL 2025 campaign that saw the explosive Australian opener average just 9.17 across six innings, Fraser-McGurk has stormed back into form with a 38-ball 88 in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 for the San Francisco Unicorns. In his innings, the pocket-sized dynamo packed 11 towering sixes and just two boundaries, that is, a boundary in every 2.9 deliveries.
IPL 2025: Delhi Capitals & poor openers
Delhi were early favourites to make the playoffs, winning five of their first six games. But their campaign unravelled just as fast, largely due to the inconsistency at the top of the order. Fraser-McGurk, who was repurchased for a whopping INR 9 crore, looked a shadow of his 2024 self, managing just 55 runs in the entire season before being dropped. Who could believe he was the same guy who smashed 330 runs at an amazing strike rate of 234.04 in 2024?
He wasn’t alone in his struggles. Veteran Faf du Plessis scored 202 runs at an underwhelming average of 22.44, while makeshift options like Abhishek Porel and Karun Nair failed to nail the opening role. At last, KL Rahul proved to be the best option, but by then, he was able to play just four league matches. His only century as an opener came in a losing cause as well. The collapse at the top ultimately cost DC their playoff spot, despite a strong start.
| Player | Innings | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 4 | 235 | 112* | 78.33 | 164.33 | 1 |
| Faf du Plessis | 9 | 202 | 62 | 22.44 | 123.92 | 2 |
| Abishek Porel | 6 | 183 | 51 | 30.50 | 152.50 | 1 |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | 6 | 55 | 38 | 9.16 | 105.76 | 0 |
| Karun Nair | 3 | 46 | 31 | 15.33 | 164.28 | 0 |
Redemption at MLC: McGurk unleashes his best
On Sunday night at the Oakland Coliseum, Fraser-McGurk reminded everyone why he was such a hot IPL property. After scoring just 6 in his MLC 2025 opener, the 23-year-old took apart the Los Angeles Knight Riders’ (LAKR) bowling, including four consecutive sixes off Shadley van Schalkwyk and another trio off Matthew Tromp. He reached his fifty in just 21 balls and looked set for a maiden T20 century before falling for 88 in the 14th over.
While this innings may not change DC’s past, it could certainly influence their future plans. Whether they retain Fraser-McGurk or attempt to buy him back at a reduced price.
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