Rajasthan Royals premier pacer Jofra Archer believes that he is going to be retained by the franchise in the Mega IPL auction scheduled to take place after completion of the 2021 edition of the league. The speedster believes that he could be fitter and more relaxed for the next season having missed this suspended season so far due to injury.
“It’s terrible in India at the moment, and if I did go to India, I would have been home early anyway,” Archer told Sussex’ Youtube channel in an interview after the first day of his Championship game against Kent. The Caribbean man further said, “If it [IPL] reschedules this year, hopefully, I would be able to go.”
Talking about his relationship with the cash-rich league’s franchise, the 26-year-old said, “I have now been at Rajasthan for the last three and next year the mega auction is coming up. It is more than likely that they would want me fit and relaxed and ready to perform in the next season.”
Revealing the reasons behind his decision of pulling out of this year’s league, the Sussex player said, “It was a bit of me and a bit of England as well. Obviously, both Rajasthan and England supported me in my decision. It was a hard decision to not go to India, a bit unpredictable as well.”
Saying that he could have gone but wasn’t sure of the number of games he would have played, Archer emphasised that he didn’t want to go just for the sake of going and not performing to his potential. “In hindsight, we can say that Covid probably would have saved me. But you don’t want to go hoping, if I am going, I am going to give my best.”
“And if IPL doesn’t happen this year then we get a fresh start and hopefully, I am there and hopefully, Stokes is there as well,” added the World Cup winner who has so far played 35 games for the Northern India franchise in the IPL, picking up 46 wickets and scoring 195 runs.
Playing for Sussex in his comeback First-Class game after the elbow injury that happened prior to IPL, the Barbados born took two wickets and was one of the chief architects in Kent's debacle, getting all out for 145 at County Ground Hove.