IPL 2018: Jofra Archer looking forward to a life-changing IPL debut

Archer was roped in by RR for 7.2 crores.

Archer was a part of Hobart Hurricanes in the bygone BBL season. (Cricket Australia)

In an exclusive interview with EspnCricinfo, young pace sensation Jofra Archer opened up on his debut IPL season with Rajasthan Royals which as he puts in his own words can be a life-changing experience. 

"It is life-changing," Archer told ESPNcricinfo at Hove, ahead of his departure for India. "I'll be able to buy my own home and change my family's life as well". 

"It's probably the biggest T20 competition outside of international cricket, and I can't play international cricket at the moment, so it's probably going to be the biggest challenge of my life so far. I just want to perform as well as I did in the Big Bash and take that form back to Sussex."

Archer who has been dreaming for his England debut for some time now had a message for all his fans where he spoke about how soon can he play for England. The reason that Archer cannot currently play international cricket is that he has opted to put his England ambitions ahead of those of his native West Indies. He turned 23 this week and is in the early stages of his seven-year residency qualification, which means that his availability for Test cricket won't be until 2022 at the earliest.

"I just want to tell them, be patient, I'm coming," was Archer's message for England's Test supporters, who might see in his languid and athletic attributes the answer to their long-standing fast-bowling problems.

"[My priorities] won't change. I think Test cricket is the reason I tried to become a pro, I just hope that the time flies. If it is that I have to wait until 2022, I'm much happier doing what I've done this winter and seeing new places, so either way I'm not fussed about waiting."

He further said the game of cricket and his family are his priorities and that his life switches between the two. He kept a word on both of them and the importance of the two in his life. 

"For me is about juggling cricket and my family time," he said. "I'm in England for 210 days a year, and other franchise tournaments limit my family time, but family time is most important to me. If it is that it is going to cut into my family time, I may have to leave a tournament out."

"My family keeps me grounded, keeps me sane," he said. "I try not to be away for too long, it is very easy to be constantly on the go. l literally left Bangladesh [in December] and went to the Big Bash, within hours of it finishing. You can be here, there and everywhere in a matter of hours" said Archer. 

"Two years ago I was playing club cricket, then halfway through that club season, I made my debut here with Sussex. And the rest is history really. Everything happens for a reason, I believe that, and I showed that this winter" concluded Archer speaking about his cricketing journey so far. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 05 Apr, 2018

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