Jofra Archer Withdraws From IPL 2025 Rajasthan Royals Matches Due Thumb Injury

Jofra Archer will miss the remaining two Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 matches for Rajasthan Royals due to a thumb injury, with the team prioritizing his fitness and ruling out his return despite the Royals being out of playoff contention. Archer, who has faced multiple injury struggles and has not played a first-class match since 2021, is expected to return to England's ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies starting May 29. He has also been considered for a red-ball comeback, potentially playing for England Lions against India A before the India vs England Test series, signaling cautious management of his workload. Alongside Archer, England players Sam Curran and Jamie Overton will not return to India for the remainder of the IPL, while other English cricketers like Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone are expected to rejoin their teams. The IPL teams Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals have no plans for temporary replacements for the English players not returning, reflecting the impact of IPL scheduling on international commitments. Archer's IPL performance this season included 11 wickets in 12 matches, making him a key bowler for Rajasthan Royals.