Former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody praised Rajasthan Royals (RR) fast bowler Jofra Archer after his match-winning spell in the IPL 2026 playoffs. Moody said that Archer set the tone by attacking the batters with raw pace and aggression, helping Rajasthan Royals take control of the contest from the very start.
Rajasthan Royals beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 47 runs in the IPL 2026 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Wednesday, May 27. Defending 243 runs, Archer ran through the SRH top order during the Powerplay and put them under pressure early in the chase.
He Came And Attacked The Opposition - Tom Moody Praises Jofra Archer
During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo Timeout, Tom Moody praised Jofra Archer for his aggressive approach and ability to maintain high pace. Moody said that Archer focused on attacking the batters rather than containing runs.
"You have to really admire his performance in a pretty short turnaround for him. As an elite fast bowler to turn it up, he was bowling over 150 [kph] on the odd occasion. He did what he needed to do. Archer didn't look to defend. He came and attacked the opposition and took them out."
Archer has enjoyed his best IPL season so far, taking 24 wickets and surpassing his previous best tally of 20 wickets from the 2020 campaign. The Rajasthan Royals pacer is currently at third place in the Purple Cap standings behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kagiso Rabada.
That's What He's Paid For - Tom Moody Hails Jofra Archer
Tom Moody said that the Rajasthan Royals pacer delivered exactly what the franchise expects from him. The former Australia all-rounder noted that Archer justified the faith placed in him by producing match-winning performances.
"You couldn't ask for anything more. That's what he's paid for, and that's what he delivered," Moody said.
Archer dismissed Abhishek Sharma for a duck with a sharp short ball. He then removed Ishan Kishan for 33 before beating Travis Head with sheer pace to knock over his stumps for 17.
Rajasthan Royals will once again look to Archer when they face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 on Friday. The fast bowler remains their biggest weapon with the new ball and will aim to produce another impactful spell to help his side reach the IPL 2026 Final.
The Wicket In Hyderabad Did Them In - Ambati Rayudu on SRH's Collapse
Ambati Rayudu said that Sunrisers Hyderabad struggled to adjust to the conditions in Mullanpur after playing most of the season on flatter surfaces at home. Rayudu felt the extra pace and bounce on the pitch troubled SRH's top-order batters.
"The wicket in Hyderabad did them in. There they could line up those line and lengths. Here, the ball was actually skidding on. It was coming quite fast off the pitch. There was a bit more bounce as well. That's where I felt they could not adjust quickly. That's why Abhishek and Ishan got done. Even Head was trying to take everything on, but could not do it."
Before the Eliminator, Sunrisers Hyderabad had enjoyed success against Rajasthan Royals this season. They chased down 229 runs against the Royals in Jaipur and had earlier beaten them by 57 runs after posting a 200-plus total during the league stage.
