Mumbai Indians’ star pacer Jofra Archer is eagerly preparing for MI’s opening game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Sunday (April 2). In a video uploaded to MI’s Twitter handle, Archer was seen giving a tough challenge to MI’s openers, captain Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan. With Jasprit Bumrah unlikely to play in the T20 league this season, the franchise is banking on Archer to perform well for the team.
During the IPL 2022 auction, Mumbai Indians paid a whopping 8 crores for Archer, knowing that he would not be available for that season. The franchise also paid 15.25 crores for Ishan Kishan, making the wicketkeeper-batter the most expensive player in the auction.
Archer has an impressive record in the IPL, taking 46 wickets in 35 matches during his career. His best season was in the IPL 2020, when he took 20 wickets in 14 games. He is a versatile player who can also bat lower down the order if needed, having scored 195 runs in the IPL with a best score of 27*.
All eyes will be on Archer as he returns to the league for the first time since the 2020 season. He had two operations in May and December 2021 for an elbow injury, which kept him out of international cricket for a long time. He also missed last year’s T20 World Cup due to his injury.
Recently, Archer showcased his form by taking four wickets for England in three T20 Internationals against Bangladesh. He also took five wickets in two One-Day Internationals against the same opponents. In the inaugural SA 20, the Barbados-born cricketer took ten wickets in six games for MI Cape Town. He will now look to replicate his recent success in the IPL 2023.
Mumbai Indians’ fans are eagerly awaiting Archer’s performance in the upcoming game against RCB. With his incredible talent and skill, the franchise hopes that Archer will help them secure a win in their first match of the season.
