3 teams who should target Jofra Archer in IPL 2025 Auction ft. RCB
With just about three days to go for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, there is an exciting twist, only adding to the anticipation. English pacer Jofra Archer, who was not a part of the final players list for the upcoming auction, has reportedly confirmed his availability for the same.
Archer was initially among some big overseas players who were not a part of the IPL 2025 auction list. He was not a part of the 2024 season, skipping the league due to injury and workload management.
However, with Archer now back in the list, several teams will be interested in going after the English pacer to strengthen their bowling attacks. It will only add spice to the auction, with teams rethinking their options and strategies.
As Archer is now back in the list and available to go under the hammer, here are three teams who could target him in the IPL 2025 auction.
3 teams who should target Jofra Archer in IPL 2025 Auction
#3 Kolkata Knight Riders
One of the major reasons behind Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) triumph last year was the performance of their fast-bowling unit. Harshit Rana, who has been retained, picked up 19 wickets while Mitchell Starc (17), and Vaibhav Arora (11) were among the wickets as well.
KKR released Starc and Arora ahead of the IPL 2025 season auction. They paid a hefty price to acquire the services of Starc last season. If they are unable to buy him back this time around, they could certainly target Jofra Archer, who could be their lead overseas pacer.
Archer as a replacement for Starc could be a perfect fit for the defending champions, with Harshit Rana already present in the mix.
#2 Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have retained only two players and none of them are bowlers. They will have to rebuild their entire bowling attack, with particular focus on the fast-bowling unit.
Last season, they had a strong pace attack with the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, and Kagiso Rabada. In fact, Harshal won the Purple Cap as well with 24 wickets, while Arshdeep bagged 19.
While they will look to bring Arshdeep back using the RTM option, they still need an overseas pacer to accompany him and lead the attack. Going in with a heavy purse into the IPL 2025 auction, PBKS could definitely go after Jofra Archer with the aim of building a strong bowling attack.
#1 Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Bowling remains one of the major concerns for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) season after season. While they pulled off a spectacular comeback to make the playoffs last year, their overseas fast bowlers struggled to perform as expected.
Reece Topley was ruled out early on while Lockie Ferguson and Alzarri Joseph were not consistent with no significant contributions as such. Bowling at the Chinnaswamy Stadium has always been challenging and RCB have lacked a solid overseas pacer who can lead their attack.
The inclusion of Jofra Archer could give them a massive shot in the arm as they will also have to build a potent bowling unit. With all his experience and ability to handle pressure, Archer could be a perfect choice for the powerplay and death overs.