Jofra Archer keeps Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 playoffs hunt with both bat & ball; Rohit Sharma scripts unwanted record

Jofra Archer kept Rajasthan Royals in the hunt for playoffs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the Englishman delivered with both bat and ball against Mumbai Indians in their final group-stage clash on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium. A win against already-eliminated Mumbai Indians would help Rajasthan Royals seal the last spot in the playoffs.

Batting first, Rajasthan Royal were certainly in a spot of bother, losing five wickets with just 119 runs on the board. But a late onslaught by Archer with the bat helped Rajasthan Royals add 73 runs in the last five overs to stage a late comeback after their specialist batters cut a sorry figure.

Archer smacked three sixes and a four to collect 32 off 15 balls while veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, coming down at No 9, hit three boundaries in the last two overs to push the total beyond the 200-run mark. The Riyan Parag-led side eventually settled for 205/8 in 20 overs.

With the ball, Archer produced just what the doctor ordered. After three dot balls, Archer made Rohit Sharma play the wrong line as the former Mumbai Indians skipper got an outside edge to walk back for a four-ball duck in the first over itself. The right-arm pacer delivered once again by cleaning up Naman Dhir as Mumbai Indians lost two wickets in the first three overs.