Jofra Archer returns home from IPL to 'focus on his rehabilitation'

Jofra Archer has flown home from the Indian Premier League "to focus on his rehabilitation" with four games remaining in the group stage of the tournament.

"Archer has been recovering from right elbow surgery," an ECB statement said. "However, pushing through the discomfort whilst recently playing, hoping it will settle, has proven challenging. Therefore, it has been agreed for him to return to the UK for a period of rest and rehabilitation to give him the best opportunity for a full recovery."

Archer, who has been replaced at Mumbai Indians by his England team-mate Chris Jordan, will return to the UK this week and work on his rehab with the ECB medical department and how county, Sussex.

Archer has played five of Mumbai's ten matches this season and has struggled to make an impact, taking two wickets and conceding 9.50 runs per over - though has regularly bowled at speeds in excess of 90mph/145kph.

After playing in Mumbai's opening game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Archer experienced discomfort in his right elbow. He briefly travelled to Belgium to visit a specialist during a short lay-off, and returned to the side just under three weeks later.

He has played in four of their last five games, but will not take part in Tuesday night's game against RCB at the Wankhede Stadium or in their final three league fixtures.

Mumbai said in a statement that Archer's "recovery and fitness continues to be monitored" by the ECB's medical team. "Jofra will return home to focus on his rehabilitation," the franchise added.

Archer told ESPNcricinfo in a recent interview that he retains ambitions as an all-format cricketer, heading into a year which sees England involved in a home Ashes series and their defence of the 50-over World Cup.

Rob Key, England's managing director of men's cricket, said earlier in the tournament that the ECB were speaking to Mumbai Indians "all the time" and that they had been "a brilliant franchise to work with" on Archer's return to fitness since they bought him at the mega-auction in early 2022. The ECB have been approached for comment.

Jordan, Archer's replacement, has been with the squad on standby for the last two weeks. He went unsold at December's auction but has previously played for Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and joins for a fee of INR 2 crore (£200,000 approx.)