Kumar Sangakkara and Jofra Archer (Image Credit: X)
New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals’ pacer Jofra Archer looked visibly angry and frustrated after bowling a difficult opener against Gujarat Titans during the IPL 2026 match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.Archer endured a nightmare start, conceding 18 runs in 11 opening balls – one of the joint-longest knocks in IPL history.
The Englishman struggled poorly with his line and length, bowled wide and bowled a no-ball as the Gujarat Titans openers took full advantage of their poor start.
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Chaotic reading: 4, Wd, 0, Nb+1, Wd5, Wd, Wd, 0, 1, 2, 1.After finally finishing, Archer walked towards the boundary ropes looking red-faced and visibly angry. The fast bowler looked frustrated with some sloppy fielding efforts from his teammates during the match, and his emotions were clearly visible on the field.The dramatic scenes even prompted Rajasthan Royals coach Kumar Sangakkara to approach the boundary ropes and calm Archer down before the match resumed.Here’s the dramatic way the ball rolls after the ball:Ball 0.1: Archer started with a short, wide delivery outside the off-stump and Sai Sudharsen punished him immediately, cutting the ball over point to cross the boundary in style.Ball 0.2: Archer throws away from outside. The delivery was made sharp and Sai Sudharsen threw his bat at it but failed to connect.
Ball 0.2 (legal delivery): Archer then delivered a short length ball outside off which went away from the bat. Sai Sudharsen directed it towards the backward point but was unable to score.Ball 0.3: Things got worse for Archer when he went over by a long lead and bowled a no-ball. Sai Sudharsan steered a back-length delivery towards backward point, where sloppy play allowed a single. Gujarat Titans also got a free hit.Ball 0.3 (free kick): Archer sprayed the ball away down the leg side.
Shubman Gill
The flick was missed and the ball went wide into bounds for five wides.Ball 0.3 back: Archer followed with another wide leg kick as he continued to struggle for control.Ball 0.3 back: This was followed by another wide showing, making it three straight wides. The free kick continued as the Rajasthan Royals dugout looked tense.Ball 0.3 (legal delivery): Archer finally gets one right with a Yorker outside.
Jill tried to pressure him but completely missed.Ball 0.4: Archer bowls on middle and leg and Gill sweeps it through square leg for a single.Ball 0.5: Sai Sudharsan escaped the lead as he attempted to tap across the line. The ball cleared the cover fielder safely and the batters completed two runs. The third umpire briefly checked for another ball, but Archer’s back foot was slightly behind the line.Ball 0.6: Archer rounded off the end with another miss behind the stumps. Sai Sudharsan curled a long pass towards cover for one, but an overthrow at the keeper’s end allowed Gujarat Titans to finish 18 runs behind.Captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsen hit driving half-centuries before late fireworks from Washington Sundar pushed the Gujarat Titans to 229/4 against Rajasthan Royals.