IPL 2021: Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Jofra Archer ruled out of the tournament

In a massive blow for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Jofra Archer, their premier fast bowler, has been ruled out of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The speedster has been spending days on the sidelines after sustaining a hand injury. The development surrounding his injury came to the fore when he was taking part in the limited-overs series against Virat Kohli’s India.

The speedster has returned to bowling earlier this week with higher intensity under the surveillance of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Sussex medical teams. In the upcoming week, the Barbados-born will be upping his training regime and will be out with his Sussex teammates. If he can bowl without much of a pain, then he’s expected to return to cricket in the next fortnight.

Jofra Archer got injured in January

As per reports on England cricket’s official website, the ECB will be taking a call on Archer’s return in due course. It was back in January when Archer developed the injury after an attempt to clean his fish tank. Thereafter, he underwent surgery to remove a glass fragment from a tendon on his right hand. The operation was carried out when he was undergoing treatment for his elbow injury.

As far as the Royals are concerned, it’s not healthy news as they are languishing at the bottom of the points table. After their four-run win over the Punjab Kings (PBKS), Sanju Samson and Co have lost three matches in a row. In their previous game on Thursday, April 22, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat them by 10 wickets at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

In Archer’s absence, RR have preferred Mustafizur Rahman as their specialist fast bowler. Though the Royals finished as the cellar dwellers in IPL 2020, it was Archer, who got the award for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his all-round show with both bat and ball.

The Royals are next set to lock horns with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday, April 24 in Mumbai itself. Samson’s men have also lost Ben Stokes, who returned home after a finger injury, and Liam Livingstone, who pulled out of the T20 league, citing ‘bubble fatigue’.