Why Jake Fraser-McGurk needs to slow down if he wants to fast track IPL success

The key to Jake Fraser-McGurk delivering on his monster $1.6 million IPL price tag might be for the Victorian whirlwind to be a little less ‘Fraser-McGurk’ advises Aussie legend Adam Gilchrist.

Jake Fraser-McGurk has been urged to rein in his attacking instincts - but only to a point - as he looks to put a crippling 10-month form slump behind him in this year’s Indian Premier League.

Fraser-McGurk took the IPL by storm last season after joining Delhi Capitals as a replacement player, clubbing 330 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 234.

But the 22-year-old has endured a torrid run since, scoring 382 runs in 24 innings and only passing 20 four times.

“It’s important for him he starts well because in the IPL it’s pretty cutthroat and franchise owners in particular, they like positive results,” Fox Cricket expert Adam Gilchrist said.

“And, they don’t hang around with people that aren’t producing those results for too long. He’s aware of that.”

Jake Fraser-McGurk has copped criticism for his seemingly cavalier approach to batting. Picture: Getty Images

Fraser-McGurk’s technique has been heavily scrutinised and questions have been raised about his cavalier approach.

Gilchrist said the batter-friendly conditions in the IPL would give the Victorian, who was signed to a deal worth more than $1.6m, an opportunity to recapture the form which has escaped him for almost a year.

“It’d be foolish to pay a bloke $1.6m or whatever it is and not start him. He’s a marquee player for them,” he said.

“But that comes responsibility and accountability and expectation. I’m sure they will give him a go and I hope for his sake he can fire.”

Gilchrist said Fraser-McGurk only needed to curb his aggression by 10 per cent to recapture the form he displayed in last year’s IPL.

“He’s still going to be going about 30 per cent quicker than anyone else if he can survive for those 30 balls or so that he desperately wants to get to,” he said.

“If he gets to 30 balls he’s going to be 60. It’s just finding a way there.

“When you’re not getting the results you try to fast track that and that’s where you can lose control.”

There are 15 Australians signed for this season’s IPL, headlined by captain Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and Mitch Starc (Delhi Capitals).

Josh Hazlewood will be joined at Royal Challengers Bangalore by BBL winner Tim David, who has a point to prove after being released by Mumbai Indians, the franchise which signed him for $1.53m in 2022.

“I think he will go into this tournament with a great deal of confidence. His previous Big Bash, the one prior to the one just gone, he struggled,” Gilchrist said.

“He can take that momentum of the psychology of that in and just maybe a refreshed mindset at a new franchise might work really well for him.”

There will also be significant Australian interest in the Ricky Ponting-coached Punjab Kings.

Ponting’s franchise has gone heavy on Australian talent, signing Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie and Xavier Bartlett.

Gilchrist said Bartlett, who has taken 32 wickets in the past two BBL campaigns for Brisbane Heat, could be the surprise packet of the Australians.

“I’m really impressed with his skills,” he said.

“He can swing the ball both ways and has a really nice slower ball, top and tail of an innings. Should Ricky give him a go early he may well play a part.”

This year’s IPL starts on Sunday morning (AEDT) and will be shown live and exclusive on Fox Cricket and Kayo.