Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar has blasted England pacer Jofra Archer for leaving the Mumbai Indians (MI) camp midway through the IPL 2023. Archer, who played just five matches for MI this year – endured a recurrence of the elbow injury.
The same injury had caused Archer to miss nearly eight months of cricket before this. He was bought by MI in IPL 2022 auction for INR 8 crores despite knowing he as unavailable that season. But with him returning to international and league cricket in January this year, MI hoped he would lead their attack in absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
But he played just one game at the start and missed a few games during which he reportedly flew to Belgium for a procedure on his elbow. He returned back and played four more games before flying back to UK. ECB then confirmed that Archer had suffered a stress fracture to his elbow and will miss the Ashes 2023 and possibly the ODI World Cup as well.
What has ticked Gavaskar off the most is Archer's attitude, with the former India captain questioning the England quick's commitment towards the franchise.
"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. 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. If he was committed to the franchise, who probably pay him more than the ECB does, he should have stayed right till the end even if he wasn't going to play and show his commitment towards the franchise. Instead, he has opted to fly off back to the UK," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.
Gavaskar expects MI to 'not be fools' and pump the entire amount assigned to him in his bank account.
He added: "A day later, a story appears that he is going to get a multi-million-pound deal with Mumbai Indians to play for their team in the various leagues in the world. This has got to be the greatest diversionary trick attempted. Mumbai Indians are not fools to sign a lame horse for any future race. Make no mistake, Mumbai Indians won't be amused at the turn of events and now that they have come back well in the tournament without his presence, he will be lucky if he gets his full fee for the IPL and if he does then he would do well to give half to his favourite charity."
Apart from Archer, this IPL 2023 alone, Kyle Jamieson (INR 1 crore by CSK), Jhye Richardson (INR 1.5 crore by MI), Will Jacks (INR 3.2 crore by RCB) have incurred huge losses to their respective franchises.
"There's simply 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. It's got to be the player's choice to pick playing for an IPL franchise or his country. Full marks to him if he chooses country over IPL, but if he chooses IPL then he has to fulfil his commitments totally and not make some excuse and leave early, especially towards the time when qualifying for the Playoffs becomes crucial," added Gavaskar.
"For far too long the franchises have been too lenient and allowed players to leave towards the latter half of the tournament. This is mainly a problem with English players and like said earlier, it is totally understandable to choose playing for the country, but if you have signed up for the IPL then you got to fulfil your commitments to your franchise right till the end of the tournament. If the franchise fails to qualify for the Playoffs, you get to return a week early,” he signed off.
(Mid-day inputs)
