This year’s IPL will begin in the United Arab Emirates on September 19. The management of the Rajasthan Royals has been tasked with another duty six weeks before the start of the competition. It is to find a replacement for Jofra Archer. Due to an injury, England’s fast bowler will be out for the rest of the year.
In addition, the Rajasthan Royals are also likely to be without Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. Jofra Archer was IPL 2020’s most valuable player, so the Royals will try to sign a replacement soon. IPL 2021 has five possible replacements for Jofra Archer, as seen in the following list:
1. Sreesanth –
In the IPL 2021 Auction, Indian fast bowler Sreesanth did not sell. Auctioneer registered himself for the auction. However, none of the eight franchises were interested in hiring him. The Rajasthan Royals were Sreesanth’s last IPL team in 2013. After that, he was implicated in a match-fixing scandal and banned from all sports.
Sreesanth returned to the Kerala domestic cricket team in 2020/21. With the ball, he took wickets for the team during crucial matches. Even bowled a few deliveries as a leg-spinner. RR’s return to IPL in 2021 should be interesting to watch.
2. Dasun Shanaka –
The Sri Lankan T20I skipper Dasun Shanaka could be an excellent addition to the Rajasthan Royals squad. In the white-ball matches, Shanaka played brilliantly against India. The Rajasthan Royals’ overseas department could be a good fit for Chris Morris.
His career totals 2,208 runs at a strike rate of 143.9 from 108 T20 matches. In the shortest format of the game, his best score is 131*. Furthermore, he has taken 30 wickets at an economy rate of 8.71. Shanaka’s strengths in both departments could help the Royals.
3. Carlos Brathwaite –
Carlos Brathwaite is among the few players who have done well in other T20 leagues but haven’t performed well in the IPL. Brathwaite scored four back-to-back maximums in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 Final to help West Indies defeat England. Right-handed bowlers can also use Brathwaite.
He has played in the IPL for the SunRisers Hyderabad, the Delhi Daredevils and the Kolkata Knight Riders. In 210 T20 games, Barbados-born player has scored 1,923 runs at a strike rate of 136.28 and taken 195 wickets at an economy rate of 8.14.
4. Mitchell McClenaghan –
Mitchell McClenaghan has had great success in the IPL. New Zealand’s left-arm fast bowler won the match for the Mumbai Indians. Despite this, Mumbai-based franchises have refused to engage its services in recent years. IPL Auction 2021 did not sell McClenaghan.
As the Kiwi pacer has IPL experience, he could replace Jofra Archer in the league. McClenaghan has played 203 T20 matches and taken 241 wickets at an economy rate of 8.53 during his career. He can also play in the batting order as a pinch hitter.
5. Fidel Edwards –
Jofra Archer and Fidel Edwards are express bowlers. He played for the Delhi Bulls in the Abu Dhabi T10 League in the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, he has returned to the West Indies T20I team.
Due to Edwards’ ability to trouble batsmen with his pace, the Rajasthan Royals may consider him as a replacement for Jofra Archer. In his T20 career, he has taken 109 wickets. Even in 2009, he won the IPL with the Deccan Chargers.