Mumbai Indians might miss Bumrah for IPL 2023, but they will have Jofra Archer for the full season

Jofra Archer, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, is expected to be available for the full season.

Jofra Archer happy to be with MUmbai Indians. (Image Credit: Twitter)
By Kshitij Ojha | Mar 2, 2023 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

With star bowler Jasprit Bumrah expected to miss the whole 16th season of the Indian Premier League, the Mumbai Indians franchise was under immense strain in terms of speed bowling. They will be slightly reassured, though, because Jofra Archer, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, is expected to be available for the full season. Last year, the franchise signed him for INR 8 crore, but he was unable to play in a single match due to severe ailments. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) have confirmed Archer’s availability, and it is expected that his national board will manage his workload in the future.

“He should be able to play a full part in the IPL and as always his franchisee and the ECB will manage his workload,” an ECB source told Cricbuzz while an IPL official added, “Jofra is very much available, have you not seen him in action in the Dhaka ODI.” Importantly, Archer missed over 18 months of cricket and just recently returned to competitive cricket with MI Cape Town in the SA20 league. Archer was a member of the England side that faced Bangladesh on March 1 at Dhaka’s Shere Bangla National Stadium. The pacer was effective with the ball, finishing with 2/37 in 10 overs. Bangladesh were limited to 209 runs thanks to his and England’s superb bowling.

Read more: ‘Bazball’: What is the England Test team’s new weapon? 

Archer is back to playing for England

Meanwhile, Archer is set to join the MI camp for training shortly after the Bangladesh series, in preparation for his comeback to the IPL. The five-time champions MI will play Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening game of the season on April 2 at Chinnaswamy Stadium. According to cricbuzz, Officials of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the IPL confirmed on Wednesday that “He should be able to play a full part in the IPL and as always his franchisee and the ECB will manage his workload,” an ECB source said while an IPL counterpart added saying, “Jofra is very much available, have you not seen him in action in the Dhaka ODI.”

Archer was out of competitive cricket for about 18 months, missing the second half of 2021 and nearly the entire year of 2022. He played his first big competitive game for MI Cape Town, a completely owned subsidiary of the Mumbai Indians management, in the SA20 in January. He appeared in five games throughout the tournament and also represented England in the three-match One-Day International series against South Africa. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to notify the MI management of Bumrah’s absence.





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