Jofra Archer Entering IPL Auction Just 3 Days Before the Event

Just three days before the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, England fast bowler Jofra Archer has decided to put his name in the pool. His base price has been set at ₹2 crore. Archer's name was not initially on the list of 574 short-listed players, which has now changed with his inclusion.

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Archer will be part of the first set of fast bowlers (Set 6), where there are currently seven bowlers, and he is expected to be auctioned on the first day of the event. This means there's a strong chance that Archer could secure a team on the first day itself.

Archer has been plagued by injuries over the past few years. Ahead of the upcoming Ashes series, he initially withdrew from the IPL auction to focus on his preparations. According to the new IPL rules, if a player has previously played in the IPL but does not enter the mega auction, they will be unable to participate in the mini-auctions for the next two seasons. This made it crucial for Archer to enter this year's auction to avoid significant financial losses.

In the 2022 IPL mega auction, Mumbai Indians spent ₹8 crore to acquire Archer. However, after missing the entire first season due to injury, Archer played only four matches in the following season. He then returned to England for treatment on an elbow injury and was out of cricket for an extended period. Archer made his return to the game in May this year, marking his comeback to competitive cricket.