IPL 2026: All-round Archer helps Rajasthan Royals secure last playoffs spot

It was a must-win game, and they were in early trouble, but Jofra Archer pulled off one of the IPL’s great all-round performances to seal Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) passage into the playoffs with a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium.

RR will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator on May 27 in New Chandigarh. The IPL’s last league game, between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals in Kolkata, is now a dead-rubber.

Sent in to bat on a somewhat slow pitch in an afternoon game, RR lost both their rampaging openers early, and struggled for momentum through the early middle overs with hard lengths and pace-off deliveries proving difficult to hit.

Then RR, despite having Shubham Dubey and their designated Impact Player Ravindra Jadeja padded up, promoted Archer to No. 7, and he hit three sixes in a 15-ball 32 that shifted the game’s momentum.

That innings sparked a late surge that pushed RR’s total beyond 200. Then Archer began its defence spectacularly, taking two new-ball wickets with high pace and movement.

And just when Hardik Pandya seemed to threaten a late heist and deny RR their playoffs spot, Archer came back for his final over and removed him with the perfect hard-length delivery.

He finished with figures of 4-0-17-3, and RR wrapped up victory by 30 runs. (ESPNcricinfo)

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