At present, Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians franchise, which is widely considered one of the most successful teams in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), is facing a significant challenge and must address several issues.
Recently, the team suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the defending champions, Hardik Pandya’s Gujarat Titans, during match number 35 held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
This loss was by a margin of 55 runs. Additionally, the continued absence of Jofra Archer from the starting XI has been a topic of discussion, and the Mumbai team has not yet responded to the questions surrounding Archer’s fitness and availability.
Reports about Jofra Archer leaving the Mumbai Indians camp for minor elbow surgery in Belgium have sparked rumors. Archer has been struggling with his elbow injury for some time now, and he has been absent from cricketing action for over a year, not only for his franchises but also for the England national team.
After the cash-rich IPL, followed by the much-awaited Ashes series, Archer is a crucial member of the English Test side. Interestingly, Archer has now addressed the rumors and denied leaving for Belgium for surgery. He was quite clear in his statement and didn’t hold back.
During the Mumbai Indians’ match against the Gujarat Titans on April 25, 2023, reports began to circulate that Jofra Archer had traveled to Belgium for what was speculated to be his fifth elbow surgery in just 25 months.
Interestingly, in his last IPL match against the Punjab Kings on April 22, 2023, Archer seemed to be in good shape and showed no signs of discomfort. He consistently bowled at 145 kmph, indicating that he was slowly returning to his top form. Archer finished with figures of 1 wicket for 42 runs in his four-over quota. Mumbai Indians is already missing the services of their leading bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Jhye Richardson.
Despite being expected to lead Mumbai’s bowling attack, Jofra Archer has yet to take on that role, which is having an impact on Mumbai’s performance in the tournament. Mumbai Indians have played seven matches in the current IPL season under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, winning three and losing four. They will next face the Rajasthan Royals on April 30, 2023, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.