Best replacement players in IPL history
Over the years, franchises have brought in players who weren’t even in the original plans but went on to guide their team’s fortunes.
8. Jake Fraser-McGurk (IN) Lungi Nigidi (OUT) for Delhi Capitals in 2024
Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk had a dream debut season in IPL 2024. Drafted in as a late replacement for injured pacer Lungi Ngidi, the opening batter turned out to be a brilliant pick for the Delhi Capitals. In just nine matches, JFM scored 330 runs at a strike rate of 234.04, the third-highest for DC. He also hammered 15-ball fifties against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, respectively.
His match-turning abilities made him one of the most talked-about players of the season. DC retained him for a whopping INR 9 crore at the 2025 auction using their Right to Match card. However, Fraser-McGurk’s second season didn’t go as planned. In six games in 2025, he managed just 55 runs at a strike rate of 105.77, including two ducks. With no runs under his belt, he was eventually benched mid-season, as DC turned to other opening combinations.
Download Our App