IPL 2023: Jofra Archer to miss MI clash against RCB? Mark Boucher answers

Add as a preferred source on Google

Mumbai Indians bowler Jofra Archer hasn't trained ahead of their IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday (April 2). The news was confirmed by MI coach Mark Boucher ahead of their opening game of the new season.

Jofra Archer was bought at a huge price of INR 8 crore in the IPL 2022 auction earlier last year. The English bowler missed the entirety of last campaign with an injury, but has returned to the team this season.

The expectations are high from the former Rajasthan Royals bowler, who will have to spearhead the Mumbai bowling in absence of their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Amid this, Mark Boucher, the Mumbai coach, has given the final verdict on Saturday.

And the former South Africa head coach says Archer missed the training on Saturday, but feels fit to play in their opening game against Faf du Plessis and his RCB troops.

"Jofra is one hundred per cent ready for tomorrow. He skipped the optional training session and felt that he was ready to go for tomorrow's (2 April) game against RCB. We are really happy with his progression in the last couple of days since he has been here," Boucher said in the pre-match press conference.

It has to be seen how the Mumbai side cope this time after a dismal outing last season, where they finished in the 9th position in the table. But Boucher believes the new additions and the old guards have gelled together nicely, which is a positive thing ahead of the new season.

"There's some new talent in the team, some new energy. The direction that we are going in is a lot of concentration and a lot of happiness as well. And I think that we are in a good space a day before our first game," the MI coach added.