England fast bowler Jofra Archer will be included in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, resolving initial confusion after his omission from the published shortlist of 574 players. Archer, originally listed on the longlist, was notably absent from the names confirmed for the auction scheduled in Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25.
Reports suggest uncertainty surrounded his potential IPL future, as new rules state that players who previously featured in the league, like Archer, would be ineligible for two years if not entered into the auction.
The 29-year-old has faced a challenging road to recovery from persistent injuries since 2020, particularly a recurring elbow issue that resurfaced last summer. England has carefully managed his return, with Archer consistently featuring in white-ball squads since May.
Despite his stated ambitions to play Test cricket again, Archer has not participated in the format since early 2021. His involvement in the IPL could further complicate this goal, as the tournament clashes with the County Championship—a critical pathway for proving his red-ball fitness with Sussex.
Skipping the early domestic red-ball season could hinder Archer's chances of being considered for England’s Test summer in 2025 or the subsequent Ashes tour in Australia.
Archer joins a pool of 38 English players in the IPL auction, including white-ball captain Jos Buttler and veteran paceman James Anderson, who is entering an overseas franchise league for the first time at age 42.
Notably absent from the auction are Test captain Ben Stokes, fellow fast bowler Mark Wood, and batter Joe Root, while all of England’s centrally contracted players were given the green light to participate.
Given Archer’s status as one of the world’s premier pacemen, his selection by an IPL franchise appears likely, though it may extend his absence from the Test arena.