Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians have roped in the services of English fast bowler Jofra Archer at a whopping amount of INR 8 crore. Archer’s former franchise Rajasthan Royals were keen to buy back the ace fast bowler but Mumbai had the money in their bank to outpower the other bidders.
Incidentally, Archer entered the IPL 2022 mega auction at a reserve price of INR 2 crore. Rajasthan were in the race for a significant period before Sunrisers Hyderabad joined the bidding war. However, Mumbai Indians were desperate to rope in Jofra Archer from the beginning and in the end, they had the last laugh.
Meanwhile, there is still no clarity over Archer’s availability in IPL 2022, considering he has been struggling with injury concerns in the last year. Interestingly, Archer was not part of the initial list of 1,214 players who had registered for the IPL auction but his name was added to the list, upon request from the franchises and in consultation with the player, when the final list of 590 was shared.
Mumbai’s keenness to sign Jofra Archer despite reservations about his participation raised a couple of eyebrows among the fans on social media. On the other hand, fans were eager to see Jasprit Bumrah and Archer leading Mumbai Indians pace attack.
Here are some of the reactions:
MI chilling in 2022 and going to unleash Sam Curran, Jofra Archer and Mitchell Starc in 2023 along with Bumrah. Good luck everyone #IPLAuction
— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) February 13, 2022
Jofra Archer to Mumbai Indians. Bumrah-Archer! Wrap up this tournament already.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 13, 2022
Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah playing for the same franchise! Remaining franchises should back off already.
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) February 13, 2022
Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer to play together for Mumbai Indians. Scary! #IPLAuction
— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 13, 2022
Cricket World ain't ready for Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer combo. pic.twitter.com/SxXX1jpd8O
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) February 13, 2022
Welcome to Mumbai Indians, Jofra Archer. pic.twitter.com/WhTSFil52y
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) February 13, 2022
Jofra to MI at 8C. Dai Mumbai! 😂 Saving money all these while only to get Jofra Archer. Indha season aadla naalum, adutha many years ku retain pannarthuku. Bumrah + Jofra together for MI in the powerplay & the death. Thiruttu pasangala! 😭😂
— Srini Mama (@SriniMaama16) February 13, 2022
Most Deadliest combo in the World in the Bowling in this Modern Era – Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer. Wow, absolute Lethal. pic.twitter.com/IvwrTumtAw
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) February 13, 2022
Jofra Archer has played his entire IPL career with only Rajasthan Royals after they bought him in the 2018 auction for Rs 7.20 crore. He featured in 35 matches for the Jaipur-based franchise, picking 20 wickets in the 2020 season when we was also named the Player of the Tournament.
The 27-year-old pacer pulled out of the 2021 season due to an injury, and subsequent surgery, that has seen him out of action for nearly a year.