Archer Bounces Back with Match-Winning Performance Against PBKS, Talks Resilience

New Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu):  Jofra Archer bounced back in spectacular fashion, earning the Player of the Match (POTM) award in Rajasthan Royals' 50-run victory over Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 on Saturday. The 30-year-old fast bowler had a tough start to the season, being hammered for the most expensive spell in IPL history, conceding 76 runs in his four overs during the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, on Saturday, Archer redeemed himself with a stellar performance, dismissing Shreyas Iyer and Priyansh Arya in the opening over of the match, setting the stage for Rajasthan's victory.

Reflecting on his earlier performance, Archer emphasized the importance of enjoying both the good and bad days in cricket. "At the start of the tournament, tough games like that happen. The most important thing is contributing to the team. When bad days come, you need to take them in stride. Enjoy the good days, because bad ones can be just around the corner. Everyone is working hard to improve, and you have to accept that not every day will be perfect," said Archer while receiving his award.

Rajasthan Royals' captain, Sanju Samson, who resumed his captaincy after recovering from finger surgery, humorously praised the combination of Archer and Sandeep Sharma, who together claimed five wickets in the match. "That’s a deadly combo—one bowler at 150 km/h and another at 115 km/h," said Samson. Samson further commended Archer’s contribution, stating, "We all love it when Jofra bowls fast. He’s been doing it for me over the last four years. He’s one of the best fast bowlers in India right now." Samson also highlighted the team's focus on the process, despite the ups and downs of the tournament, emphasizing that the result would take care of itself as long as they stayed focused. "We’ve taken our time to find the best combinations, and we’re mindful of injuries, as this is a long tournament," Samson added.