Archer Concedes the Most Expensive Spell in IPL History on His Return
Jofra Archer had a return to forget in the IPL 2025 season, conceding 76 runs in four overs while playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). This now stands as the most expensive bowling spell in IPL history.
Archer’s Nightmare Return to IPL
Having missed IPL 2024, Archer was a late addition to the 2025 auction list after negotiations with the ECB and a pay cut in his central contract. Rajasthan Royals took a gamble on him, but his first game back turned disastrous.
Brought into the attack after SRH had already raced to 55 runs in four overs, Archer was immediately targeted. His Ashes rival Travis Head smashed him for 23 runs in his very first over. Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Heinrich Klaasen continued the onslaught, hammering him for six fours and three sixes, cementing his place at the top of an unwanted list.
Most Expensive Bowling Spells in IPL History
1️⃣ Jofra Archer – 0/76 vs SRH, 2025
- Smashed for six fours and three sixes
- Worst spell in IPL history
2️⃣ Mohit Sharma – 0/73 vs DC, 2024
- Rishabh Pant took him apart in the final over
- Conceded 6, 4, 6, 6, 6 in the last over
3️⃣ Basil Thampi – 0/70 vs RCB, 2018
- Moeen Ali, AB de Villiers, and Colin de Grandhomme punished him
- Conceded five fours and six sixes
4️⃣ Yash Dayal – 0/69 vs KKR, 2023
- Rinku Singh’s five consecutive sixes in the last over
- Failed to defend 29 runs in the final over
5️⃣ Luke Wood – 1/68 vs DC, 2024
- James Fraser-McGurk, Shai Hope, and Tristan Stubbs took him apart
- Conceded 26 runs in his final over
6️⃣ Reece Topley – 1/68 vs SRH, 2024
- Conceded five boundaries in his last over as SRH posted the highest-ever IPL total
Hayden on Archer: “Not Sure I’ve Seen a Worse IPL Bowling Performance”
Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden was critical of Archer’s performance, stating that he had never witnessed a worse bowling display in the IPL.
Archer’s return was expected to bolster RR’s bowling attack, but instead, he found himself at the top of an unwanted record list. It remains to be seen how he will bounce back from this humiliating spell.
