Delhi Capitals' Jake Fraser-McGurk Harmed By a Monkey? Bizarre News From His U19 WC Goes Viral Again

Australia’s rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk had quite the debut in the IPL on Friday (April 12), smashing 55 runs off just 35 balls for Delhi Capitals (DC) as they secured their second win of the season. His innings, featuring two fours and five sixes, not only entertained but left the crowd at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow awestruck. Since then, the 22-year-old has been the talk of the town.

And, while browsing the internet to learn more about this young talent, an unusual news story about him grabbed everyone’s attention.

Though known as a favourite of Glenn Maxwell, who hailed him as “easily the most talented young batter in the country,” Jake gained even more attention as the young cricketer who had to cut short his under-19 World Cup journey due to a monkey encounter at a South African nature reserve. Apparently, the monkey, upset over Jake running out of snacks, scratched him on the eyelid.

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Yes, as strange as it may seem, the headlines went beyond strange: “Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk will return home from the U19 World Cup after being scratched by a monkey at a nature reserve.” Imagine waking up to that… guaranteed morning chuckles.

And now, with all respect and a good dose of humour, the story has resurfaced online, along with some cricket fans’ witty remarks.

“Jake Fraser-McGurk is the first player to debut in the IPL having been sent home early from an Under-19 World Cup after being attacked by a monkey the day after being run out without facing on the first ball of a quarter-final” quipped one user on ‘X’.

Another put it bluntly, “Jake Fraser-McGurk will do wonders and all that but every time he does something, people are so going to talk about that incident- how he was sent home after being scratched on the face by a monkey at a nature reserve.”

Nevertheless, what’s currently ‘worth’ catching everyone’s attention about Jake is his hat-trick of sixes against Krunal Pandya in Friday’s match. And not just that, his 55 runs mark the second-highest score by a player on his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals. The record is still held by Gautam Gambhir, who scored an unbeaten 58 against Rajasthan Royals in 2008. Plus, Jake’s knock has put him in the second spot on the list of players with the highest debut score while batting at No. three in the IPL.

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With all the fascinating stuff about Jake, isn’t it just hilarious that the monkey scratch is what sticks in everyone’s memory? Talk about priorities.