Rajasthan Royals (RR) fast bowler Jofra Archer took a dig at Punjab Kings (PBKS) after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. The pacer said that his franchise must avoid a collapse similar to the Punjab Kings’ campaign and maintain their momentum during the crucial knockout stage.
Rajasthan Royals, led by Riyan Parag, defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, by 47 runs in the Eliminator at the New Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Wednesday, May 27. The victory secured Rajasthan’s place in Qualifier 2, where they will face Gujarat Titans (GT) at the same venue on Sunday, May 31.
Don’t Want What Happened to Kings 11 to Happen to Us - Jofra Archer
Speaking to the broadcasters, Jofra Archer spoke about Rajasthan Royals’ current momentum. The fast bowler said that the team is moving in the right direction but added that every player must continue contributing to avoid a sudden collapse in form.
“Very confident. Every game, every game at a time. I think we are peak, well, I don't want to say peaking, we're going in the right direction at the right time, you know, we don't want what happened to Kings 11 to happen to us, so I think we're on the right path, everyone chipping in every game, and that's the important part,” Archer said.
Punjab Kings suffered a dramatic collapse during IPL 2026 under captain Shreyas Iyer. After winning six of their first seven matches, the 2025 runners-up lost six consecutive games and eventually finished with 15 points, narrowly missing the playoffs as Rajasthan Royals qualified with 16 points.
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Stuck to Our Plans, Stuck to Our Lengths - Jofra Archer on RR Bowling Display
Jofra Archer praised Rajasthan Royals’ bowling effort after their high-scoring Eliminator win. The fast bowler said that the entire attack followed the team’s plans well and maintained disciplined lengths despite conceding runs on a batting-friendly surface.
“Apart from the figures, I thought our bowling pretty alright. I think all of the guys bowled alright. We stuck to our plans. We stuck to our lengths, and we were rewarded tonight,” Archer said.
The England pacer played a key role in stopping Sunrisers Hyderabad during their chase of 244 runs. He dismissed Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Travis Head, finishing with figures of 3/58 in four overs.
The More Runs He Scores, the More Runs We Have to Defend - Jofra Archer on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Jofra Archer praised young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his explosive innings in the Eliminator. Archer said that big scores from the teenage opener reduce pressure on the bowling attack and give the team a stronger chance of defending totals.
“It was very exciting, the more runs he scores, the more runs we have to defend. So, you know, he can go on and get 150. So it's good for the bowlers when he gets a lot of runs,” Archer said.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played a match-winning knock of 97 runs off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 15-year-old has emerged as one of Rajasthan Royals’ biggest performers this season alongside Archer and has played a major role in the team’s run to Qualifier 2.
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