Player number 171 in the IPL 2022 mega-auction, Jofra Archer, appeared in the accelerated bidding process. The five-time champions Mumbai Indians had already decided that they are going to go after the England fast bowler, even though Archer is unlikely to not participate in this year’s tournament as he continues recovery of his elbow injury after undergoing a second operation.
This fact though did not deter Mumbai from going after the deadly pacer who was the MVP of IPL 2020 while playing for the Rajasthan Royals, who hadn’t retained him but started the bidding at 2 crore.
Mumbai, whose bowling attack was looking thin till then, raised the second bid and both the franchises engaged in a long bidding war for England’s 2019 World Cup Super Over hero.
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What would you name this duo? ?
चला पलटन, लवकर बोला! ?#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #AalaRe #TATAIPLAuction #IPLAuction @JofraArcher @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/MOtM9OT2Gg
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) February 13, 2022
The Royals, because of their short purse left, pulled out when the price reached 6.5 crore, that is when the Sunrisers Hyderabad joined in the act. Mumbai, though, didn’t relent and finally acquired Archer’s services for a whopping 8 crore.
This is what owner Aakash Ambani said about their acquisition of Jofra Archer: “Jofra has been a player Mahela gave his first professional debut too. So happy to have got him. So happy to have Jof and Boom making a lethal bowling attack, although next year.”
So yes, it was earlier made clear by the ECB that Archer is highly unlikely to play in the IPL this year and the BCCI had confirmed that there won’t be any replacement allowed for Archer.
But Mumbai Indians still went with their big bids as they know the talent of Archer, apart from his searing pace the right-hander can really smoke the ball long with the bat.
Mumbai roped in the 26-year-old Archer and will pair him with the 28-year-old Jasprit Bumrah – making one of the deadliest fast bowling pairs of all time in the IPL. The thought of seeing Archer bowl from one end and Bumrah from the other – with the new ball and in the death – has gotten fans excited. FIRE….
Looking back at Mumbai’s season last year, they struggled majorly for two reasons: lack of acceleration from the openers and the unexpected lack of wickets from Trent Boult, both with the new ball and in the death.
Both these problems seem to have been sorted now: MI got back Ishan Kishan for a big sum of 15.25 crore on Saturday and made the Sunday special for their fans with Archer’s buy.
Archer is a canny operator who will trouble the batters in all aspects – pace, bounce, and has the slower variations. Although he isn’t likely to play in this year’s IPL, Mumbai have solved their fast bowling issue for many years to come – for both Archer and Bumrah are good to go for at least another half a dozen years.
Mumbai had planned his immaculately – they had spent big on Kishan and then bought a few cheaper rate players before splashing big money on Archer. We think Archer’s purchase by Mumbai Indians with a long-term vision makes this pick the best one of the IPL 2022 mega-auction.
#IPLAuction | Bumrah & Archer ?? pic.twitter.com/ZHq6uagSlj
— A K i B (@akibaliii) February 13, 2022
