‘Unbelievable’: Young gun’s huge IPL payday

Jake Fraser-McGurk couldn’t get a run for Australia in the T20 series against Pakistan but that didn’t hurt him in the IPL auction as the batting dynamo secured a $1.6m deal as the man he replaced at the Delhi Capitals this season, David Warner, went unsold.

The rise and rise of the 22-year-old was capped with the stunning result having been paid just $91,000 this year when he was brought in to replace the injured Warner, who now remains without an IPL home, with brilliant effect.

Fraser-McGurk blasted 330 runs after taking over from Warner and looms as his long-term replacement at Delhi, although his time in the Australian T20 team could be limited.

He made just 47 runs in three innings in the recent series against Pakistan, with a high score of 20, but that didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the massive Indian payday.

“Thankyou for the unbelievable opportunity,” Fraser McGurk posted on Instagram after his massive pay rise.

Despite going unsold on Day one, Warner could come back in the accelerated round on day two of the auction.

But Fraser-McGurk’s contract was put in the shade by fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who topped the Australian contracts after Royal Challengers Bengaluru forked out $2.29m, the highest price of an Aussie at the auction so far.

After his record $4m payday this year, Hazlewood’s fast bowling teammate Mitchell Starc earlier was sold for $2.14m, less than half of the figure that made him the most expensive player in IPL history.

“Starc is a matchwinner, he’s a wicket-taker, and (we) couldn’t be happier,” Capitals coach Hemang Badani said.

Marcus Stoinis also picked up another monster payday, netting a $2m contract with Ricky Ponting’s Punjab Kings.

Glenn Maxwell was sold to the Kings for $765,000, one of his smaller IPL deals, with Mitch Marsh picked up by the Lucknow Super Giants for $620,000.

Pat Cummins and Travis Head has been retained by their franchises.

Aussies in the IPL Auction

Josh Hazlewood $2.27m – Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Mitchell Starc $2.14m – Delhi Capitals

Marcus Stoinis $2m – Punjab Kings

Jake Fraser-McGurk $1.64m – Delhi Capitals

Mitchell Marsh $619,599 – Lucknow Super Kings

Glenn Maxwell $765,387 – Punjab Kings

Adamp Zampa $436,000 – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Australians retained by IPL teams

Pat Cummins $3.28m – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Travis Head $2.55m – Sunrisers Hyderabad