Sunil Gavaskar, the renowned Indian cricketer, expressed his strong disapproval of Jofra Archer’s departure from the Mumbai Indians team during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. Archer, the English star bowler, was anticipated to fill the void left by the absence of Jasprit Bumrah but unfortunately played only five matches before his recurring elbow injury resurfaced.
In his column, Gavaskar shared his opinion that the Mumbai Indians franchise should not fully compensate Jofra Archer with the INR 8 crore amount that was spent on acquiring him during the IPL 2022 auction.
Gavaskar’s criticism suggests that he believes Archer’s limited contribution to the team does not warrant the full payment, considering his early departure and injury-related absences.
In his column for Mid-Day, Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment with Jofra Archer’s stint with the Mumbai Indians team. Gavaskar highlighted that the franchise took a calculated risk by acquiring Archer, fully aware of his existing injury and his availability from this season onwards.
However, Gavaskar questioned the return on the significant investment made in Archer, as he seemed to be lacking full fitness during his limited appearances. Gavaskar also criticized Archer for not informing the franchise about his fitness concerns prior to his arrival, which only became apparent when he struggled to bowl at his usual pace.
Gavaskar further pointed out that Archer sought treatment abroad during the tournament, supposedly based on instructions from his country’s cricket board. This raised questions about Archer’s level of fitness and commitment to the franchise.
Gavaskar believed that even if Archer was unable to play, his commitment should have led him to stay until the end of the tournament to demonstrate loyalty to the team that pays him more than the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) does.
Instead, Archer chose to fly back to the UK, which Gavaskar viewed as a lack of commitment towards the Mumbai Indians franchise.
Reports emerged suggesting that Jofra Archer had left India during the IPL to consult with a doctor in England. However, Archer denied these claims on Twitter, refuting the notion. Sunil Gavaskar addressed this situation and regarded it as a diversionary tactic.
Furthermore, Gavaskar expressed his skepticism regarding rumors of a multi-million-pound deal between Archer and the Mumbai Indians for participation in various leagues around the world. He emphasized that the Mumbai Indians franchise is not naive enough to sign a player who is currently unfit for future tournaments.
Gavaskar suggested that if Archer receives his full fee for the IPL, he should consider donating a portion of it to his preferred charity, implying that he may face difficulty in justifying his full payment given his limited contribution and premature departure from the team.
“There’s simply no point paying even one rupee for a player, however big a name he may be, if he is not going to be available for the entire tournament,” the former Indian cricketer said.
Sunil Gavaskar also emphasized the importance of a player’s choice between representing their country or playing for an IPL franchise. He acknowledged that it is commendable if a player prioritizes their national team over the IPL. However, if a player decides to participate in the IPL, Gavaskar stated that it is essential for them to fulfill their commitments to the franchise entirely.