England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been added to the final list for the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction, just days after his name was omitted from the shortlist sent to franchises last weekend. ESPNcricinfo confirmed that Archer’s inclusion was informally communicated to teams on Thursday, just days before the auction begins on November 24 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Archer, who set a base price of INR 2 crore, had been a notable absentee in the initial 574-player shortlist, sparking surprise given his past involvement in the IPL, where he played for Mumbai Indians. Along with England teammate Mark Wood, Archer’s exclusion raised eyebrows, especially since both were originally part of the longlist submitted by the IPL.
The 29-year-old’s addition to the auction list follows discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding potential implications if he had been excluded. Archer, who has been recovering from injuries in recent years, made a successful return to international cricket in 2023, participating in the white-ball series and the T20 World Cup.
Archer’s IPL career has been interrupted by injuries, with his last full season in 2020, where he won the MVP award for Rajasthan Royals. He played just five matches for Mumbai Indians in 2023 before another elbow injury ended his campaign.
Additionally, two new players, USA fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar and Maharashtra wicketkeeper-batter Hardik Tamore, have been added to the auction list, set to be players 575 and 576.
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The IPL 2024 auction is expected to attract intense bidding, with several franchises eyeing Archer’s proven talent despite recent injury setbacks.
