New Delhi: As usual, the Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to deliver young talents to the world who showcase their prowess to become a national side regular. In the IPL 2024 clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) on Friday, Australia’s young batter Jake Fraser-McGurk made heads turn with a match-winning half-century on his IPL debut. Plying his trade for DC, he blasted 55 runs off 35 balls laced with two fours and five towering sixes to announce himself in the cash-rich league and deliver DC a six-wicket win.

Fraser-McGurk is an up-and-coming talent from Australia who was roped in as a replacement for an injured Lungi Ngidi by the Capitals. DC kept him on the sidelines in the first five games and decided to give him a chance against LSG – an opportunity he grabbed with both hands. He only turned 22 a day before his IPL debut and left Lucknow’s Ekana crowd in awe of his brilliance.

Before he joined the Capitals, he brought up some bright performances for Dubai Capitals in the recent edition of the ILT20 tournament. Earlier this year, he also got the chance to debut for Australia in the 50-over format. Playing against West Indies in the second and third ODI of the series, he scored 51 runs at a soaring strike rate of 221. He is yet to make it to the T20I and the big shots with great strike rate might land him a call-up soon.

The right-hand batter also stands out with a sensational record in List A cricket that establishes him as a quick, powerful, and exciting batting prodigy. He surpassed South Africa legend AB de Villiers for the record of scoring the fastest century in a one-day match. During the Marsh One-Day Cup in 2023, he went past AB de Villiers’ record of 31 balls to hit a century in just 29 balls.

The 22-year-old lit up the Big Bash League (BBL) as well with his exploits. Playing for Melbourne Renegades, he smashed 257 runs at an impressive strike rate of 158.64.

He notably got off the mark on his IPL debut with a six and went on to add four more in his tally – three of which came in succession off Krunal Pandya’s over. Here’s a look at those three back-to-back maximums by Fraser-McGurk –

Maiden IPL FIFTY for Jake Fraser-McGurk on DEBUT!

Hat-trick of sixes in this thoroughly entertaining knock