Jofra Archer's Record-Breaking Struggle: The Most Expensive Spell in IPL History

Jofra Archer's Nightmare Over in IPL 2025

England fast bowler Jofra Archer etched his name into the Indian Premier League record books—but not in the way he would have wanted. During Rajasthan Royals' clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Archer registered the most expensive bowling figures in IPL history, conceding a staggering 0-76 from his four overs. This surpasses the previous record of 0-73 held by India's Mohit Sharma in 2024.

The Unrelenting Sunrisers Onslaught

Sunrisers Hyderabad dominated the Royals' bowlers, posting a colossal 286-6—just one run shy of their own IPL record set in 2024. The innings was powered by:

• Ishan Kishan: An unbeaten 106 (47) with 11 fours and 6 sixes.
• Travis Head: A blistering 67 (31) to set the tempo.
• Heinrich Klaasen: A late flurry of 34 (14) to push the score beyond 280.

The Royals' bowlers struggled throughout, with the powerplay yielding 94-1, and the 200-run mark breached in the 15th over.

Historical Context in T20 Cricket

Archer’s figures, while the worst in IPL history, aren’t the most expensive in all T20 cricket:

• Musa Jobarteh (Gambia): 93 runs conceded vs. Zimbabwe (2023).
• Kasun Rajitha (Sri Lanka): 0-75 vs. Australia (2019) in Tests.

Most Expensive IPL Bowling Figures (Top 5)

1. Jofra Archer: 0-76 (RR vs. SRH, 2025)
2. Mohit Sharma: 0-73 (GT vs. DC, 2024)
3. Basil Thampi: 0-70 (SRH vs. RCB, 2018)
4. Yash Dayal: 0-69 (GT vs. KKR, 2023)
5. Reece Topley: 1-68 (RCB vs. SRH, 2024)

What’s Next for Archer and the Royals?

Having returned to Rajasthan Royals after injury struggles with Mumbai Indians, Archer will hope to rebound quickly. Meanwhile, Sunrisers—runners-up in 2024—sent a strong message ahead of their title push.