Jofra Archer is likely to pull out of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in a bid to ensure he stays fit ahead of a busy summer and winter for England in international cricket, according to a report in the Telegraph.

The right-armer has been plagued by an injury to his right elbow, having missed two out of four Test matches against India in part due to concerns over the troublesome joint. According to the Telegraph, he will have an injection after the India-England T20I series concludes which will almost certainly rule him out of the IPL, but hopefully enable him to be fit for England’s T20 World Cup campaign in October and November and the Ashes in December and January.

Archer was signed by Rajasthan Royals on an £800,000 per season deal ahead of the 2018 edition, and has consistently justified that lofty price tag. In the 2020 tournament, Archer had an IPL to remember, named as the Player of the Tournament despite Rajasthan Royals finishing last in the table. He claimed 20 wickets and conceded just 6.55 runs per over, as well as scoring at a strike-rate of 179.36.

“I need to take care of my elbow before I think about what is going to happen,” Archer said of his injury earlier this month. “For me, in the immediate, I want to get through this [T20I] series and then I will do everything in my power to make sure I’m going to the World Cup and the Ashes.”

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