“What Has He given in Return?” Sunil Gavaskar Lambasts Jofra Archer for Leaving Mumbai Indians Camp Midway

Mumbai Indians’ pacer Jofra Archer left their camp midway through the IPL 2023 due to an elbow injury. Veteran Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar has come down heavily on Jofra Archer for leaving the Mumbai Indians camp midway and has stated that the MI franchise has got no returns from the English pacer.

Jofra Archer played only 5 games for the Mumbai Indians franchise in IPL 2023. He endured a recurrence of the elbow injury that forced him to miss nearly eight months of cricket after which the pacer left the tournament on May 9 even before MI could finish their campaign.

“What has been Mumbai Indians experience of Jofra Archer? They took a punt on him knowing that he was injured and would be available only from this season. They paid big money for him and what has he given in return? He didn’t seem 100 per cent fit and he should have informed the franchise about it,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

Jofra Archer was barely able to bowl at his usual pace: Sunil Gavaskar

“They only realised when he turned up and found that he was barely able to bowl at his usual pace. In between the tournament, he went abroad for treatment which is what his country’s cricket board apparently said. So he was never fully fit, but still came over,” the veteran batter said about Archer’s fitness.

Sunil Gavaskar criticised Jofra Archer’s attitude and questioned his commitment towards the Mumbai Indians franchise. The veteran batter further stated that there’s no point paying even one rupee for a player, however big a name he may be, if he is not going to be available for the entire tournament.

The English pacer was bought by Mumbai Indians in the mega auction ahead of the IPL 2022 edition even though they knew he won’t feature in the tournament in 2022. However, they expected him to fire in IPL 2023 but the pacer appeared a pale shadow of his former self.

Jofra Archer conceded 33 runs against RCB, 42 runs against Punjab Kings and 56 against the same opponent in the return fixture. He was able to pick just 2 wickets making things worse for Mumbai Indians.