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Rajasthan Royals and England fast bowler Jofra Archer seems unfazed by all the criticism he has received for skipping the England vs New Zealand Test to play in IPL 2026. According to the RR assistant coach, Archer has not paid attention to all the criticism and is apparently happy to stick with it rather than withdraw from the IPL.
Many former England greats had criticized Archer for his decision to remain in the IPL. He was not selected in the England squad to face New Zealand in the first match of the series starting at Lord’s on 4 June. The official reason cited was his workload management, as Jofra Archer has a history of struggling with injuries.
Archer’s critics include Vaughan, Atherton, Butcher
Former England players Michael Vaughan, Michael Atherton and Mark Butcher criticized Jofra Archer for prioritizing the IPL rather than playing Test cricket for England.
“I’m sure he will be in the squad (for the second Test). It comes in mid-June. I think we have a problem in English cricket at the moment because Joffra was obviously staying for the full IPL. The ECB has made some agreement with the BCCI which is allowing all our players to stay for this period,” Vaughan told Cricbuzz.
“If that’s the case, then I have a problem with England’s contracts because Jofra has been seen on a very good contract by them for the last few years. So who holds the key? I believe international contracts weigh heavily on any franchise,” Vaughan said.
Mark Butcher was more outspoken in his criticism of both Archer and the England and Wales Cricket Board. “It amazes me. It really does,” Butcher said on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast. “Managing workload.”
“I mean, the problem is it should be the other way around. He should be taken out of IPL games, rather than giving you a break from your main employer to go abroad and play in tournaments. I don’t understand that, I don’t think I would ever do that.”
“What’s the point of giving someone a two-year contract and then allowing them to not honor that contract [not] Playing for you but playing for someone else? I find it absolutely ridiculous that you can be rested from the England Test match because you are playing in the IPL.”
Michael Atherton, on the other hand, seemed more sympathetic when speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. “First of all, I can understand why he would need to increase his weight,” Atherton said. “He’s playing the IPL… white-ball cricket, a four-over game. So, there’s a lot on the line for a Test match that’s coming very quickly, considering the IPL basically runs till the first Test… I completely understand that.”
“But, I find it incredibly frustrating, and I’m sure England supporters do too, because you’ve got a central contract there. The purpose of a central contract is to organize and manipulate a player’s workload so that you’re right and ready and going to go to England,” he said.
It doesn’t matter to him – RR assistant coach on criticism made by Jofra Archer
Assistant coach Trevor Penny spoke to reporters in Mumbai ahead of Rajasthan Royals’ final league stage match of IPL 2026, where RR will play Mumbai Indians on Sunday. Penny said that Joffra Archer himself was not at all bothered by such things and it did not matter to him if he had to try his hand in England to complete his work in the IPL.
“It doesn’t matter to them, if you stay here, you upset people in England, and if you go back, you are at risk of never playing in the IPL.” Again, that will happen,” Penny told reporters when questioned about Jofra Archer’s criticism of Atherton et al.
Ahead of the 2025 season, the BCCI introduced a new rule stating that foreign players who withdraw from the IPL before the season for reasons other than injury will face a two-year ban from the competition.
Joffra Archer and Rajasthan Royals qualification scenario in IPL 2026
Jofra Archer is currently RR’s leading wicket-taker in IPL 2026 with 18 wickets in 13 matches. He has bowled at an average of 24.38 and an economy rate of almost nine runs per over.
On Sunday, RR will again turn to Jofra Archer to lead them into a strong run into the IPL 2026 playoffs. The equation for RR is very simple. Of the four teams that have neither officially qualified nor been officially ruled out of IPL 2026, RR is the only team whose fate is in its own hands.
If RR beats MI on Sunday, they will advance. But if they lose, they will have to depend on other results to make it up, including on Saturday when Punjab Kings take on Lucknow Super Giants.
Also read: Gujarat Titans in shock as Tom Banton returns to action soon after being ruled out of IPL 2026