'Finally MI replaced a patient' - Fans react as Chris Jordan replaces injured Jofra Archer in IPL 2023

Chris Jordan & Jofra Archer (Source: Twitter)

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 playoff battle heats up, Mumbai Indians' already shaky bowling unit has suffered another blow as speedster Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury. Ahead of their crucial game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the franchise on Tuesday announced that England pacer Chris Jordan will replace his compatriot in the upcoming matches.

In an official statement, MI confirmed Archer's departure and said that the right-arm pacer's recovery will be monitored by the English Cricket Board (ECB). "Chris replaces Jofra Archer, whose recovery and fitness continues to be monitored by ECB. Jofra will return home to focus on his rehabilitation," MI tweeted.

𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗠𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗶 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀

Chris Jordan will join the MI squad for the rest of the season.

Chris replaces Jofra Archer, whose recovery and fitness continues to be monitored by ECB. Jofra will return home to focus on his rehabilitation.… pic.twitter.com/wMPBdmhDRf

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 9, 2023

Archer failed to make an impact on MI

Archer's injury issues clearly hindered his performance in IPL 2023, as he only got two wickets from five innings at a poor economy rate of 9.50. After playing their tournament opener against RCB on April 2, the 28-year-old missed out on four straight games. His last appearance was against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 6, where he failed to take any wickets in MI's six-wicket loss at the Chepauk Stadium.

One of the finest bowlers in the history of the game, Archer has missed considerable matches for England over the past two years due to injury. However, he is expected to be included in the England squad for the 2023 Ashes which will kick off from June 16 in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Jordan last appeared in the IPL in 2022 for CSK, where he took two wickets in four appearances. The right-arm medium-fast bowler went unsold at a base price of Rs 2 crore at the December auction. He has also represented RCB, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the cash-rich league. Since his IPL debut in 2016, the Barbadian-born English cricketer has taken 27 wickets in 28 IPL matches for various franchises.

Mumbai Indians Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Jofra Archer, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Arshad Khan, Kumar Kartikeya, Ramandeep Singh, Dewald Brevis, Raghav Goyal, Vishnu Vinod, Riley Meredith, Shams Mulani, Arjun Tendulkar, Tilak Varma, Hrithik Shokeen, Duan Jansen, Sandeep Warrier, Jason Behrendorff, Chris Jordan

Here's how fans reacted: 

Ambani be like 😁😁 pic.twitter.com/dUS9CshcGT

— Bhupender Thakur (@MisterBeeTee) May 9, 2023

the fear is real 🥶❤ pic.twitter.com/fFeMsaAdZy

— divz (@koliesque) May 9, 2023

Next season mi - archer pic.twitter.com/SEwyTERKkm

— jetha hi🏆ler 🐦 (@sterns_haschen) May 9, 2023

Finally some good news for Mi fans🥳🥳🥳🥳💙

— 𝐒𝐀𝐌 (@Vitamin_is_back) May 9, 2023

Finally MI replaced a patient

— aahil Ali (@aahilraza70) May 9, 2023

Angrejo are still looting us😭😂

— TOXIC.18’7’10 (@TO6ICs) May 9, 2023

Is he injured?? Or mumbai just left him.

— Class 11 Sc 50 Toulik Upla (@11Upla) May 9, 2023

Mumbai Indians should release jofra archer next year

— ✶ 🎀 𝒟𝒶𝓀𝓈𝒽 𝑔𝒾𝓁𝓁 🎀 ✶ (@screwgauge77) May 9, 2023

“Archer and Bumrah in the same team. Other teams must be trembling in fear 🔥🔥”

😂😂😂

— Kiran Tony (@s_kirantony) May 9, 2023

One run machine getting replaced by other. Like to like replacement imo.

— cricBilla (@fittsvilla) May 9, 2023