ITL 2022: Akash Ambani opens up on why Mumbai chased ‘unavailable’ Jofra Archer

Mumbai co-owner Akash Ambani has explained why they picked England pacer Jofra Archer despite his unavailability due to elbow injury. Archer hasn’t played competitive cricket since last February and has been missing different series due to a recurring elbow injury. Notably, he had put his name in the player’s auction at the base price of 2 crores despite not recovering.

Interestingly, Mumbai, Rajasthan and Hyderabad were battling for the right-arm pacer’s services. The five-time winners snapped him for INR 8 crore finally. Ambani said that his team wanted to have the services of the 2019 World Cup-winner and can be lethal partner to Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

“We took all those into considerations. After yesterday, what the fast bowlers went at, one option became very dear to us that Jofra was the only marquee fast bowler left in the list.

“So, we had discussed his name previously also and 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,” Ambani said during a virtual press conference.

Have been tracking Tim David: Akash Ambani

Ambani added that the team has been tacking Singapore-born Tim David. Mumbai bought him at INR 8.25 crore after battling with Bangalore and Kolkata.

“Tim is a player we have been tracking for last two or three years, you know, he was playing the associate nations and last year he got a good half a year experience with RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore), which was crucial for him to know what all goes on in the IPL and what level one does need to perform.

“We always believed in his skills, he is one of the best finishers in the world and as soon as we knew Hardik (Pandya) was not in our team sheet, we knew that slot had to go to a foreigner, because there is no one in India than Hardik,” he said.