IPL 2020: Five players who can replace Jofra Archer in Rajasthan Royals squad

Since the time Jofra Archer burst into the T20 scene, he has been billed as one of the big-ticket players for the future. Firstly seen in the big stage for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL), the 24-year old has given Rajasthan Royals a slight edge since 2018 due to his ability to bowl zippy spells consistently. He started playing for the pink army since 2018 and has taken 15 and 11 wickets at 21.67 and 26.45 respectively in two years.

On the 6th of February 2020, Jofra Archer’s ruling out of the IPL 2020 got confirmed due to an elbow fracture and understandably it has come as a significant blow to the Rajasthan Royals. The 2008 champions couldn’t fare as well as the other teams in the IPL auction, making some questionable purchases. Hence, the exception of Archer from the Royals’ fold would largely dent their chances in the 13th edition of the tournament.

On that note, we take a look at five bowlers who can replace the Barbados-born for the forthcoming competition. The selected one may have some big shoes to fill.

Five Players who can replace Jofra Archer:

1. Alzarri Joseph

Very few players in the IPL have enjoyed a dream debut similar to that of Alzarri Joseph. In his very first match for the Mumbai Indians in 2019, Joseph accounted for six wickets, including that of the tournament’s eventual leading run-getter David Warner. During his record-breaking figures of 3.4-1-12-6, the Antiguan-born speedster eclipsed Sohail Tanvir to end up with the best bowling figures in the history of the tournament.

Watching Joseph bowl in tandem with his fellow countryman Jofra Archer would have been a mouth-watering one. Nevertheless, the 23-year old is a like for like replacement. He is capable of shouldering the leadership of the pace attack by taking the new ball and bowling as quick as any bowler. Along with bowling swiftly, he can use his height to good effect to generate the desirable bounce.

Currently, Joseph has 24 wickets in 19 T20 games at a strike rate of 16.7. Rajasthan Royals can seize this opportunity by roping him in to partner him with Oshane Thomas, who is a similar type as well. If he can maintain his fitness level throughout the tournament, the youngster can make life very difficult for the batsmen.

2. Jhye Richardson

If Australia missed a bowler in the 2019 World Cup and their tour of India last month, it might well be Jhye Richardson. Alongside the Starcs and Cummins, Jhye Richardson has quietly risen to become one of Australia’s dependable fast bowlers through his variety of skills. The speedster can make the ball talk by bowling quick through the air at breathtaking speeds.

Through his fast arm action, the 23-year old can pose some difficult questions for the batsmen. Richardson has successfully made his comeback from his shoulder injury by performing in the ongoing Big Bash League. In an otherwise forgettable season for the Perth Scorchers, the pace bowler has taken 15 wickets in 14 games that sealed his place in the T20I team for the tour of South Africa.

Richardson’s strike rate of 136.79 with the bat is also a testament that he can bludgeon some towards the end and is a fast outfielder too. Hence, all this proves that he can be one of the excellent additions for the Royals. The Western Australian also picked up six wickets in three ODIs at 18.67 during Australia’s tour of India in 2019.

3. Daniel Sams

Joshua Philippe and Chris Green were the two prominent names purely picked up by the IPL franchises based on their exploits in the Australian T20 extravaganza. The injury to Jofra Archer may open the door for Daniel Sams to get drafted in and prove his mettle in the sub-continent.

The left-arm pace bowler is presently heading the wicket-taking list in the ninth season of the Big Bash League with 30 wickets in 17 games for Sydney Thunder. His 30 scalps have come at an impressive average of 15.86 and holds an economy rate of 7.83. In all T20s, the 27-year old has 52 wickets in 36 games.

While still raw and inexperienced, Sams’ all-round abilities make him one of the most exciting talents in the T20 arena. With the willow in hand, he has a strike rate of 120 in the shortest format and can tonk a few out of the park. Daniel Sams can be an apt replacement for Jofra Archer in Rajasthan Royals’ ranks.

4. Liam Plunkett

The English selectors wielding the axe on Liam Plunkett post World Cup is one of the most inexplicable decisions. The 34-year old fast bowler stood at the forefront of their World Cup victory, providing them with some vital breakthroughs during the middle-overs. Nevertheless, England’s loss could become the Rajasthan Royals‘ gain.

The veteran fast bowler can be drafted in as a replacement for Jofra Archer. In an era where teams more often rely on spinners to get them breakthroughs, the pink army can get them through quality and a frontline fast bowler. Plunkett possesses good control along with bowling at a sharp pace that makes him one of the difficult bowlers to get away with.

The Yorkshire-born has previously played for the Delhi franchise in 2018 in which he only took four wickets in seven matches at a hideous average of 56.25. Plunkett also reiterated his desire to play for England in the T20 World Cup. Hence, IPL is the platform from where he can find his way back.

5. Sean Abbott

Australia don’t have the dearth of quality of fast bowlers and Sean Abbott doesn’t stay too far behind. Abbott has often remained on the fringes of the Australian limited-overs team but has made the most of his opportunities when given a go. The New South Wales-born fast bowler made his T20 debut for Australia in 2014 against Pakistan and bounced out Shahid Afridi only in his fourth ball.

A tall, fast-medium speedster, the 29-year old can generate some unplayable bounce to trouble the batsmen at a vicious pace. In his latest T20 for the national team, he bagged the man of the match award for taking two wickets for just 14 runs. Even in the Big Bash League for the Sydney Sixers, Abbott has taken 14 wickets in only six games at a stunning average of 12.21.

If chosen, Abbott would be looking forward to doing better than the previous time he featured in the IPL. He played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in two games in 2015 without a single wicket to his name.