Jofra Archer retained by franchise for 2019 IPL

Sussex all-rounder Jofra Archer has been retained by Rajasthan Royals for next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 23-year-old is one of 16 players retained by the franchise from the 2018 season, a list that includes England internationals Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, former Australian captain Steve Smith and New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.

Jofra took 15 wickets for the Royals in 2018 having been bought at the player auction for around £800,000 following a bidding war between the Rajasthan and fellow franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The Sunrisers have retained Archer’s Sussex Sharks teammate Rashid Khan for the 2019 IPL. Khan played as one of the Sharks’ Vitality Blast overseas player this summer and will return to The 1st Central County Ground for next year’s tournament.

Next year’s IPL is scheduled to begin on 23rd March. The tournament may be held outside of India to avoid clashing with the country’s forthcoming general elections, with South Africa and the UAE mooted as possible venues.

A player auction for the 2019 IPL is scheduled to be held in Jaipur on 18th December 2018.