Jofra Archer bowled some good pace, hope he can put his name in selection for next gameMI head coach Mark Boucher

By India Today Sports DeskMumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher remained optimistic about Jofra Archer’s participation in the ongoing IPL 2023 after the fast bowler played his second game for MI after 20 days.

Archer, who missed the IPL 2022 season due to injury, played his first game in Mumbai colours on April 2 against RCB before missing the next four matches as a precautionary measure after picking up a niggle.

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MI acquired the services of Archer for INR 8 crore last year despite knowing he would not play in the IPL 2022. Archer had suffered an injury setback in 2021, when he started having trouble with his right elbow. The England star underwent two operations and missed nearly two years of international cricket after sustaining a lower-back stress fracture.

In his second game for Mumbai Indians against Punjab Kings on April 22, Archer picked the crucial wicket of Sam Curran, who hit 55 off just 29 balls to power PBKS to 214/8. In reply, Cameron Green and Suryakumar Yadav’s fifties went in vain as MI were restricted to 201/6.

MI head coach Boucher said that Archer bowled at “good pace” and remained hopeful that the fast bowler would be available for the next game against the defending champions Gujarat Titans on April 25 in Ahmedabad.

“I thought Jof bowled us some good pace. He landed a couple of yorkers. The wicket was good to bat on and thus, we knew it was going to be a tough night for our bowlers. For that, I think for his first outing, we’ll take it,” Boucher said in the post-match press conference.

“Hopefully, he’s not feeling any pain tomorrow and he can be up and running and put his name in the selection for the next game. It’s always good to see Jof running in at full pace so we’re grateful for that.”