IPL 2018 | Rajasthan Royals could miss out on the pace of youngster Jofra Archer this year

Rajasthan Royals endured a disappointing defeat on their return to the IPL after a gap of more than two years at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad, courtesy of a dazzling 77* by left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan. The visitors managed to pick up just one wicket in their bid to defend a low-target of 126, that of Wriddhiman Saha. The RR bowling unit seemed a bit lacklustre on the day with the likes of Ben Laughlin, Ben Stokes, and Jaydev Unadkat being hammered all around the ground.

They would have surely missed West Indian youngster Jofra Archer amidst their squad who would have added some well-needed dazzle to an otherwise sombre bowling department. Archer was bought by Rajasthan Royals for a whopping Rs 7.2 crore in the IPL auction earlier this year. However, he suffered a side strain when he was playing for the Quetta Gladiators in the 2018 season of the Pakistan Super League which cast a doubt over his availability for the Indian Premier League.

"It is life-changing. I'll be able to buy my own home and change my family's life as well. It's probably the biggest T20 competition outside of international cricket, and I can't play international cricket at the moment, so it's probably going to be the biggest challenge of my life so far. I just want to perform as well as I did in the Big Bash and take that form back to Sussex," Archer had told after being picked up in the auction.

Archer has an English father and a British passport but is not eligible to play for England until the winter of 2022 under ECB rules as he did not live in England until his 18th birthday. Hence the youngster needed to complete a seven-year residency period before making his Test debut for the Three Lions.