IPL 2023: Michael Vaughan baffled with Jofra Archer’s role for Mumbai Indians against Royal Challengers Bangalore

Mumbai Indians once again suffered a loss in their opening game of an IPL season, as Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated them by eight wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Notably, Virat Kohli (82* runs off 49 deliveries) and Faf du Plessis (73 runs off 43 deliveries) were brilliant with the bat as the home team chased down 172 runs in just 16.2 overs.

Meanwhile, former cricketer Micheal Vaughan has recently stated that Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma made a tactical error by introducing Jofra Archer in the fourth over of the match. As per the former England skipper, the speedster should have been given the new ball as he has the capability to wreak havoc with it.

“I was surprised that Jofra Archer bowled the fourth. When you've got a relatively small total, I'd have Jofra on from one of the first two overs. They need to get early wickets. You have to go for your trump card, and if that's a pre-planned move that Jofra's going to bowl four and six, there's time in cricket and in T20 cricket when you've got to go against your pre-plan.

“I don't think it was easy for him [Jofra Archer] to come because they were 30/0 when he got his fist over. They are both in, got their eyes in. It's not an easy two overs to be bowling when you've got two outstanding players set. I think it'd have been better suited to bowling at the top and trying to knock one or two of them over,” Vaughan said while talking on Cricbuzz.

The IPL brings a different pressure: Vaughan

In his debut match for Mumbai Indians, Archer leaked 33 runs in four overs, without picking up a wicket. That’s a massive concern for Mumbai at the moment since ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah is already ruled out of the competition. Thus, Archer is expected to take extra responsibility in the middle but he eventually failed to put up a show against RCB.

“It's a different pressure than what you have when you go back to play for your international team. Yes, there is pressure playing for your international team, but you've got real protection around you that you know you're going to be playing a few games. Look at Harry Brook, playing for the first time in the IPL. He didn't look like the player that he had been in an England jersey for the last six months. The IPL brings a different pressure,” Vaughan added while talking about Archer’s performance.