IPL 2023: Sunil Gavaskar calls Jofra Archer 'lame horse', suggests Mumbai Indians to not pay him one rupee

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IPL 2023: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has slammed Jofra Archer for not taking his role in Mumbai Indians (MI) seriously and not even staying with the franchise to give them moral support till the end of the ongoing IPL 2023.

Notably, Archer recently went back to the UK to focus on his rehabilitation. After missing the entire IPL 2022 season, the 28-year-old played just five matches and picked two wickets for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing season.

“What has been Mumbai Indians’ experience of 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,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day for Archer who was bought for Rs 8 crore ahead of IPL 2023.

“They only realised when he turned up and found that he could barely 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 further added.

Gavaskar has also shunned reports suggesting that MI are planning to offer the England quick a multi-million dollar to play for their franchises across the year. Gavaskar called Archer a "lame horse" and asserted that he would be lucky if he gets a fee for the entire IPL 2023 season from the five-time champions.

"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. 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 favourite charity,” wrote Gavaskar.

“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 fulfil his commitments totally and not make some excuse and leave early, especially towards the time when qualifying for the Playoffs becomes crucial,” added Gavaskar.