Jofra Archer not bothered by sharp criticism amid IPL vs England controversy

IPL 2026, MI vs RR: Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Trevor Penney said Jofra Archer is unfazed by criticism in the ongoing IPL vs England debate, insisting he remains focused and unaffected by outside noise.

In Short

• Former England captains questioned ECB allowing Jofra Archer to stay in IPL
• RR assistant coach said Archer has barely discussed the controversy
• The Royals are in a must-win position to advance to the play-offs

Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Trevor Penney said Jofra Archer is not bothered by the sharp criticism amid the ongoing IPL vs England debate. Former England captains Michael Atherton and Michael Vaughan have questioned the ECB’s decision to allow Archer to continue playing in the IPL ahead of England’s first Test against New Zealand.

Atherton talked about the long-standing tension between franchise leagues and international cricket, urging caution with Archer as he returns from a prolonged injury layoff. Vaughan was more direct, arguing that England’s central contract system loses value if players are allowed to prioritise IPL commitments over Test preparation.

Speaking before RR’s clash against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, Penney said Archer remains unfazed, adding that he is focused on cricket, rarely discusses the issue, and continues his routine without being affected by external criticism or speculation.

“I’ve read some of those articles. It’s quite weird because it’s a big tournament. Everybody knows IPL is the thing to come to as well. So, if he misses one game for England, then so be it. I think that’s how he’s thinking,” Penney said in the pre-match press conference.

“It doesn’t bother him, I don’t think. Maybe he’d be a bit annoyed, but I can’t answer for him on that. He’s just getting on as normal. He’s hardly even mentioned it. The guys haven’t even spoken about it. So, it is what it is,” Penney said.

“You either choose to stay here and annoy people there, or you leave here early and then risk upsetting people here and maybe never coming back to the IPL” Penney added.

ENGLAND MANAGING JOFRA ARCHER’S WORKLOAD

England have been carefully managing Jofra Archer’s comeback following a series of elbow and stress-related injuries that have kept him out of extended Test action since 2021. He has only recently returned to consistent international cricket across formats and remains under strict workload monitoring by the ECB.

Archer has been left out of the squad for the opening Test against New Zealand as part of a phased return to red-ball cricket.

As for the Rajasthan Royals, they must win their final league match at the Wankhede Stadium to secure a playoff spot without relying on net run rate. A defeat could see them eliminated from the tournament.

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