Mumbai Indians raised eyebrows in the auction room and around social media when they splurged out INR 8 crore for Jofra Archer despite knowing that the England fast bowler will unlikely – or won’t be at all – available for the entire IPL 2022 season. However, the franchise has roped the 26-year-old with a longer vision.
Jofra Archer, who bowled the super over for England in the 2019 World Cup final and then took Test cricket by storm in the following Ashes, is recovering from an elbow injury and has twice undergone an operation for that.
He missed the India Test series, T20 World Cup last year and the following Ashes, and the West Indies Test series. He is expected to be fit in a couple of more months’ time.
Mumbai Indians are the second IPL team for Archer, who spent 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons with Rajasthan Royals – he missed the entire 2021 season with injury.
Jofra Archer, a football fan, likened his move from the Rajasthan Royals to Mumbai as one when superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo moved out from Manchester United to Real Madrid, then Juventus and achieved immense success in other teams.
The fast bowler asserted that he will rate himself higher if he attains success for Mumbai Indians.
“The change of environment is good because you then get to challenge yourself. It is all right to perform in your comfort zone but when you actually go away and start performing in a different team, in a different setting, only then can you probably start rating yourself,” Jofra Archer said in an interview with mumbaiindians.com.
“It is like when Cristiano Ronaldo first left England, people said he may not be good outside but then he has performed and done it wherever he has gone. No one can ever question his skill now, it is pretty much the same concept.”
Mumbai Indians are the most successful IPL franchise – with 5 trophies in their cabinet. Archer believes that the franchise owners have glued the team like a family and the players have been felt secured by the management – and that, he feels, is the key reason for their triumphs.
“MI looks very close-knit and family-oriented and such teams always do well. That’s why it is no surprise that we have won five titles. Polly’s (Pollard) been there 10 years, Malinga was there a long time, the same with Rohit too. These things make you feel safe when you come into the team as a new player,” Jofra added.
