On Tuesday, it was announced that England fast bowler Jofra Archer would be unable to continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to fitness issues. Archer had been purchased by Mumbai Indians for Rs 8 crore in the auction, but had only played in five matches and taken two wickets this season. He has been out of international cricket for nearly two years due to a back injury and did not participate in the IPL last year.
According to a statement by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Archer had been recovering from elbow surgery, but had been struggling with discomfort during recent games. As a result, he will be returning to the UK for rest and rehabilitation to aid in his full recovery. The ECB will be monitoring his progress.
Replacing Archer on the Mumbai Indians team will be Chris Jordan, a fast bowler who made his IPL debut in 2016 and has played in 28 IPL matches, taking 27 wickets. Jordan has played for various teams in the past, including Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, and Chennai Super Kings. The 34-year-old has represented England in 87 T20Is and taken 96 wickets. He had joined the Mumbai Indians camp at the end of April and will be playing for a fee of Rs 2 crore.
Interestingly, Jordan had gone unsold at the auction in December last year, making his selection as Archer’s replacement a fortuitous turn of events for the team. On Monday, he spent close to an hour batting in the nets, preparing for his upcoming matches with the Mumbai Indians.
Chris Jordan England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Indian Premier League (IPL) Jofra Archer Mumbai Indians Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bangalore T20Is
Last modified: May 9, 2023
