We’re halfway through the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League, and it’s been a mixed bag for the Australians participating in the glamorous tournament.

Travis Head and Jake Fraser-McGurk have set the competition alight with a couple of scintillating performances with the bat, while the Royal Challengers Bengaluru are reeling at the bottom of the ladder after million-dollar stars Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green struggled early.

With Australia poised to announce its T20 World Cup squad in the coming weeks, IPL performances could prove the difference between a plane ticket to the West Indies or a quiet winter back home.

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PAT CUMMINS (SUNRISERS HYDERABAD) — A-

Nine wickets at 24.88

BB 3-43, Econ 8.00

With the exception of Mumbai Indians duo Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins has been one of the most influential pace bowlers in the competition.

For the Australian quick to maintain an economy rate of eight, especially during what’s proven a high-scoring tournament with scores regularly exceeding 220, speaks volumes about his consistency.

Cummins claimed 2-35 during the record-breaking 523-run contest against the Mumbai Indians, backing it up with three crucial wickets during last week’s victory over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The New South Welshman’s leadership has also proven vital for the Sunrisers, who finished bottom of the IPL last year but are currently in contention for a finals spot.

MITCHELL STARC (KOLKATA KNIGHTS RIDERS) — D

Six wickets at 47.83

BB 3-28, Econ 11.48

With a $4.4 million price tag next to his name, there would always be plenty of pressure on Mitchell Starc heading into his first IPL campaign in nine years.

However, the Kolkata Knight Riders would have expected more from their marquee signing after some underwhelming performances in purple.

Starc leaked 100 runs from his first two matches without snaring a wicket, while his 0-53 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad ranks as the second most expensive bowling figures of his T20 career.

The left-armer bounced back against the Delhi Capitals earlier this month by taking 2-25, including the dismissals of Australian teammates David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, snaring a further three wickets against the Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens.

However, Starc conceded seven sixes during Sunday’s narrow one-run win against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, almost botching what should have been a comfortable victory.

“In a game of T20, we all need a little bit of luck, a few edges go by, a dropped catch or two, that’s T20 cricket,” Starc explained earlier this month.

“Probably not the start I wanted, but we’ve been winning games, so that’s what it’s about.

“(T20 cricket) can be brutal at times, particularly on the bowlers … personal stuff aside, the team’s start has been fantastic.”

TRAVIS HEAD (SUNRISERS HYDERABAD) — A+

324 runs at 54.00

HS 102, SR 216.00

The Sunrisers Hyderabad must think Travis Head’s $1.2 million IPL contract was an absolute bargain.

The South Australian has stunned the IPL with some exhilarating knocks this season, most notably this week’s 39-ball century against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

During his first match in orange, the left-hander clobbered a 24-ball 62 to help steer the Sunrisers towards 3-277, which at the time was the highest team total in IPL history. But of course, Head and his Hyderabad teammates broke that record a couple of weeks later.

Then on Friday evening, Head and opening partner Abhishek Sharma smacked 125 runs during a record-breaking Powerplay against the Delhi Capitals.

After being overlooked for the Sunrisers’ opening game of the season, he is currently the second-leading run-scorer of the tournament, only sitting behind Indian superstar Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, he’s now a certainty to open for the batting for Australia at this year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States.

“On a bit of a roll there,” Head laughed on Saturday.

“When you’re in good form, just trying to keep it simple.”

MITCHELL MARSH (DELHI CAPITALS) — C-

61 runs at 15.25

HS 23, SR 160.52

Mitchell Marsh, expected to lead Australia at this year’s T20 World Cup, has returned home after sustaining a hamstring injury during the IPL.

Having been elevated to open the batting for the Delhi Capitals, the West Australian made a handful of starts but never converted to substantial scores, later slipping down to first drop. Meanwhile, he only claimed one wicket during his brief stint with the Capitals, leaking 103 runs in eight overs.

It remains to be seen whether his IPL campaign is over.

GLENN MAXWELL (ROYALS CHALLENGERS BENGALURU) — D-

32 runs at 5.33

HS 28, SR 94.11

The Big Show requested for himself to be dropped after a horror start to his 2024 season with the Royals Challengers Bengaluru, electing to take a break from IPL cricket.

The $2million player registered scores of 0, 3, 28, 0, 1 and 0 before his self-imposed axing, struggling to tame pace bowlers when they dropped short.

“He has been unable to play fast bowling, period,” former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports last week.

“Balls bouncing to his chest or shoulder height are troubling him. He can whack every ball below his waist height, but not the ones above that.”

However, Maxwell’s bowling was more than handy during the first half of the IPL, taking four wickets at 19.00 for the Royals Challengers.

SPENCER JOHNSON (GUJARAT TITANS) — C+

Four wickets at 37.75

BB 2-25, Econ 9.43

It’s been a commendable but unglamorous start to Spencer Johnson’s maiden IPL campaign.

After being snapped up by the Gujarat Titans on a $1.78 million contract, the left-armed quick was tasked with occupying the middle overs early in the tournament, snaring two wickets during a narrow victory against the Mumbai Indians.

However, the South Australian went wicketless in recent contests against the Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals before missing selection for Sunday’s match against the Punjab Kings.

Johnson probably hasn’t done enough to force his way into Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, but he’s undeniably got the makings of a world-class bowler.

CAMERON GREEN (ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU) — D

74 runs at 14.80

HS 33, SR 110.44

Four wickets at 35.00

BB 2-27, Econ 9.23

Cameron Green’s chances of securing a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad have taken a hit after he was axed from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru starting XI earlier this month.

The West Australian, playing on $3.15 million contract, failed to make a statement at his new franchise, jumping up and down the order before being left out of the side altogether.

He has contributed four wickets during this year’s IPL, while his batting strike rate leaves a lot to be desired.

Green, who took a ripping catch during Sunday’s loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders, did not play any T20 cricket in the 11 months prior to the IPL, and there have definitely been signs of rust.

MARCUS STOINIS (LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS) — B-

130 runs at 21.66

HS 58, SR 135.41

Marcus Stoinis hasn’t set the IPL alight this season, but he’s probably done enough to keep his spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad.

The all-rounder notched a match-winning half-century in the Lucknow Super Giants’ low-scoring victory over Gujarat Titans, also playing an essential role in the franchise’s previous triumph against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, smacking 24 off 15 balls.

He has also taken some crucial wickets with the ball, snaring two scalps while conceding less than seven runs per over across the tournament.

TIM DAVID (MUMBAI INDIANS) — B+

142 runs at 35.50

HS 45*, SR 159.55

Tim David’s been doing what Tim David does best.

The Singapore-born T20 pinch-hitter has been waltzing out at the death for the Mumbai Indians and slapping boundaries. He clobbered an unbeaten 45 (21) during the franchise’s recent victory against the Delhi Capitals at Wankhede Stadium, also scoring 42 not out from 22 balls during last month’s record-breaking contest against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

David remains one of Australia’s most crucial figures ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup campaign.

DAVID WARNER (DELHI CAPITALS) — C

167 runs at 23.85

HS 52, SR 135.77

Despite making plenty of starts for the Delhi Capitals, David Warner has been far from his best in the IPL this year.

Following a promising handful of performances against the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings last month, the veteran opener has hardly contributed to the Capitals’ campaign since, most recently posting scores of 10, 8 and 1.

The 37-year-old also suffered an injury to his hand last week, missing Delhi’s victory over Gujarat Titans.

JAKE FRASER-MCGURK (DELHI CAPITALS) — A+

140 runs at 46.66

HS 65, SR 222.22

A star is born.

Jake Fraser-McGurk was added to the Delhi Capitals squad at the eleventh hour, named as an injury replacement for South African quick Lungisani Ngidi.

After watching the first few matches from the sidelines, the young Victorian was picked for last week’s match against the Lucknow Super Giants — and on IPL debut, the right-hander smoked 55 from 35 balls, including five sixes.

The 22-year-old backed it up with his 15-ball fifty against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Delhi on Saturday, the second-fastest half-century by an Australian in T20 history.

Fraser-McGurk is quickly becoming one of the sport’s most in-demand young talents, with offers pouring in from across the T20 circuit. Meanwhile, he’s giving national selectors some headaches ahead of the T20 World Cup, potentially pushing Steve Smith out of the squad.

JHYE RICHARDSON (DELHI CAPITALS) — D

Zero wickets

BB 0-40, Econ 10.00

West Australian seamer Jhye Richardson has only made one appearance for the Delhi Capitals thus far, taking 0-40 from four overs against the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium.

MATTHEW WADE (GUJARAT TITANS) — D

Four runs at 4.00

HS 4, SR 66.66

Having missed the start of the IPL due to Sheffield Shield commitments, Wade has played one match for the Gujarat Titans this season, scoring 4 (6) against the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.