Jofra Archer’s story with the Rajasthan Royals came full circle in the IPL 2025 auction, as the Jaipur-based franchise brought him back into their fold for an eye-popping INR 12.50 crore.
Once a vital cog for the Royals from 2018 to 2020, Archer had been sidelined from the IPL spotlight in recent years. His inclusion in the auction, finalised just three days before the event, instantly reignited interest.
Starting with a modest base price of INR 2 crore, a fierce tug-of-war ensued between his former teams, the Royals and the Mumbai Indians. But in the end, it was the Royals who secured their prodigal pacer, reigniting hopes of rekindling past glories.
This knack for overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities has defined Archer's career, from England's World Cup triumph to his high-profile return to the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 auction.
From a promising start with the West Indies U19 team in 2013, only to face a career-threatening back injury that even saw him slip out of the Barbados cricket setup, Jofra Archer's journey peaked in 2019 when he lifted the ODI World Cup trophy with England.
Born in Barbados on April 1, 1995, to Englishman Frank Archer and Barbadian Joelle Waithe, Jofra Archer’s path to England’s 2019 World Cup triumph was anything but straightforward. After relocating to England in 2015, his eligibility for the tournament became a hot topic. The England Cricket Board’s decision to amend their qualification rules, reducing the residency period from seven years to three, opened the door for Archer to make his mark on cricket’s grandest stage.
Jofra Archer began his journey in England’s domestic circuit with Sussex’s second XI and Horsham in the Sussex Premier League before making his first-class debut for Sussex against Pakistan in July 2016. That same month, he also stepped into List A cricket in the One-Day Cup.
Archer’s rapid rise through the ranks culminated in his senior England debut in an ODI against Ireland in May 2019, just weeks before the home World Cup, where he played a pivotal role in securing the team’s maiden title.
Tasked with bowling the decisive Super Over in the nail-biting final against New Zealand, Archer displayed nerves of steel to seal the historic victory for England. He also emerged as the team’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming 20 scalps in 11 matches – third-highest overall in the competition.
A month after winning the World Cup, Archer made his Test debut in the high-stakes Ashes series against Australia at Lord's. His searing pace, frequently crossing 150 clicks, was the highlight of the series and often made Australian batters uncomfortable. He finished the series with 22 wickets from four Tests at an average of 20.27.
Jofra Archer’s first Rajasthan Royals stint
After his impressive showing with Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League and with the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, Archer was signed by the Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2018.
The English pacer had a memorable debut in the IPL picking up three wickets against Mumbai Indians and winning the Player of the Match award.
Archer went on to play three seasons with the Royals picking up 46 wickets from 35 matches averaging 21.32 at an impressive economy of 7.13.
He also won the Most Valuable Player award in IPL 2020 picking up 20 wickets and scoring 113 runs from 14 games. He averaged 18.25 with the ball that season at an economy and strike rate of 6.55 and 16.7, respectively.
After a season with Mumbai Indians and another spent on the sidelines due to injury, Jofra Archer found himself added to the IPL auction list at the last minute. In a full-circle moment, it was the Rajasthan Royals—where his IPL journey began—who secured him once again.
