Sports News | I'm Looking Forward to Starting a New Chapter: Archer on MI Picking Him in IPL Auction

Mumbai, Feb 14 (PTI) England pacer Jofra Archer, who landed a Rs 8 crore deal with the Mumbai Indians despite being unavailable for this year's IPL due to injury, says signing up with the franchise is like "starting a new chapter" in his career.

Archer was bought by the five-time IPL champions on the second day of the IPL 2022 mega auction in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Also Read | FIH Pro League 2022: Near-Perfect India Thrash South Africa 10-2 Again.

He is unlikely to play in this season's IPL as he continues his recovery from elbow surgery, but was given permission to enter the auction with a view to compete in the 2023 and 2024 tournaments.

"I am super excited to be joining the Mumbai Indians. It has been a franchise that was really close to my heart and I always wanted to play for them as long as I could have remembered watching IPL cricket," he said in a video posted on Instagram handle of MI.

Also Read | IPL 2022 All Squads: Full Players List of All Indian Premier League Franchises After Mega Auction.

"I am so glad that I have finally got the opportunity to represent such an amazing franchise. I am also going to get a chance to play with some of the biggest stars in the world. So I am really looking forward to starting a new chapter. See you guys soon."

Earlier on Sunday, explaining the rationale behind picking Archer, MI owner Akash Ambani had said, "... of course he (Archer) is not available this year but when he is fit and available, I believe that with (Jasprit Bumrah) he will make a formidable partnership."

Former India pacer and MI's director of cricket operations, Zaheer Khan said the prospect of witnessing Bumrah and Archer bowling in tandem will be worth the wait.

"You are eagerly waiting for the partnership to go on the field and so am I," he said.

"To see two legendary fast bowlers bowling in tandem and I'm glad that it seems possible and will be worth the wait."

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)