Chris Jordan, the England fast bowler, has been signed by Mumbai Indians (MI) as a replacement player for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
Jordan (base price – INR 2 crore) went unsold during the players’ auction held in December last year. However, he has previous experience of playing in the IPL. The England all-round has represented various teams, including Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
So far, in 28 IPL matches, Jordan has taken 27 wickets at an average of 30.85, with 4/11 being his best figures. The 34-year-old last played for CSK in the IPL 2022, where he could pick just two wickets in four matches.
This year, MI have struggled with their international fast bowlers, with Jasprit Bumrah being unavailable, Jhye Richardson ruled out and Jofra Archer recently returning from Belgium after meeting an elbow specialist. It is yet to be discovered which player Jordan has replaced in the Mumbai camp, but it is clear that he is being brought in to boost their fast-bowling attack.
Jordan has been playing T20 cricket regularly, and his recent experience with Gulf Giants in the ILT20 tournament in February is noteworthy. He was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, taking 20 wickets in ten innings at an average of 13.80. In addition, he played three T20Is against Bangladesh last month, further showcasing his recent form.
With his IPL experience and recent form, Jordan could prove to be a valuable asset for the Mumbai team in their quest for IPL glory.