IPL 2023: Suni Gavaskar, displeased with Jofra Archer’s leave mid season, said “What has he given MI in return?” - Cricket Winner

Sunil Gavaskar has descended vigorously on Jofra Bowman for leaving the Mumbai Indians camp halfway through the IPL 2023. Archer, who missed nearly eight months of cricket due to a recurrence of his elbow injury and only played five games for MI this year, left the IPL on May 9 before MI could finish their campaign.

The move didn’t agree with Gavaskar, who feels MI ought not be paying Bowman everything of ₹8 crore they spent on him at the IPL 2022 auction

MI’s speculation on Toxophilite has just gone downhill since they got him. In the wake of missing the whole last season, Bowman was supposed to be the solution to MI’s bowling troubles without a trace of Jasprit Bumrah. In any case, those assumptions came crashing down when Bowman seemed a pale shadow of his previous self. Archer scored 33 runs against RCB, 42 runs against Punjab Kings, and 56 runs against the same opponent in the rematch. This, while picking only 2 wickets. Gavaskar has been most offended by Archer’s attitude, with the former India captain questioning the England fast forward’s dedication to the franchise.

Jofra Archer will return from the #IPL with immediate effect for a period of rest and rehabilitation

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 9, 2023

“What has been Mumbai Indians’ experience with Jofra Archer? They took a punt on him knowing that he was injured and would be available only from this season. They paid big money for him and what has he given in return? He didn’t seem 100 per cent fit and he should have informed the franchise about it. They only realised when he turned up and found that he was barely able to bowl at his usual pace. In between the tournament, he went abroad for treatment which is what his country’s cricket board apparently said. So he was never fully fit, but still came over. If he was committed to the franchise, who probably pay him more than the ECB does, he should have stayed right till the end even if he wasn’t going to play and show his commitment towards the franchise. Instead, he has opted to fly off back to the UK,”

Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

During the IPL, there was a report that Archer had traveled to England to see a doctor, but the fast bowler denied it on Twitter. Gavaskar also expects MI to “not be fools” and pump the entire amount assigned to Archer in his bank account now that he has officially returned home to “focus on his rehabilitation” after being ruled out of England’s Ashes squad for the five-Test series against Australia.

“A day later, a story appears that he is going to get a multi-million-pound deal with Mumbai Indians to play for their team in the various leagues in the world. This has got to be the greatest diversionary trick attempted. Mumbai Indians are not fools to sign a lame horse for any future race. Make no mistake, Mumbai Indians won’t be amused at the turn of events and now that they have come back well in the tournament without his presence, he will be lucky if he gets his full fee for the IPL and if he does then he would do well to give half to his favorite charity.”

Archers’ situation isn’t the first time a team has spent a lot of money on a player without getting the returns they expected. Kyle Jamieson ($1 million by CSK), Jhye Richardson ($1.5 million by MI), and Will Jacks ($3.2 million by RCB) have all suffered significant franchise losses this year alone. Gavaskar can’t help but emphasize this enough because it has become quite common.

“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. It’s got to be the player’s choice to pick playing for an IPL franchise or his country. Full marks to him if he chooses country over IPL, but if he chooses IPL then he has to fulfill his commitments totally and not make some excuse and leave early, especially towards the time when qualifying for the Playoffs becomes crucial,”

added Gavaskar.

“For far too long the franchises have been too lenient and allowed players to leave towards the latter half of the tournament. This is mainly a problem with English players and like said earlier, it is totally understandable to choose to play for the country, but if you have signed up for the IPL then you have to fulfill your commitments to your franchise right till the end of the tournament. If the franchise fails to qualify for the Playoffs, you get to return a week early.”