England pacer Jofra Archer, who had previously decided to skip the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction, is now expected to make a last-minute entry. After initially being excluded from the final auction shortlist, reports suggest that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has granted him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), allowing Archer to re-enter the highly anticipated auction.

Archer, who has faced numerous injury setbacks in recent years, was originally part of the IPL 2025 longlist, but his name was later missing from the final shortlist. According to sources, the ECB had withheld his NOC due to concerns over his recovery and the need for him to prioritize fitness ahead of the Ashes 2025 series. The board was cautious about overloading the fast bowler with more playing commitments given his recent injury history.

Cricket broadcaster Matt Kabir Floyd shed light on the situation during the It's Not Just Cricket show, revealing that discussions between the ECB, the BCCI, and player agents were ongoing to resolve the matter.

"Mark Wood and Jofra Archer were on the initial longlist for the auction but then weren’t on the shortlist, and it turns out by the sounds of it that the ECB had denied them NOCs. I am hearing there are some negotiations going on right now between the BCCI, the ECB, and the agents," Floyd said.

Jofra Archer was acquired by Mumbai Indians for Rs 8 crore in the 2022 IPL mega auction. However, due to persistent injuries, Archer missed the entire 2022 season and managed to play only four matches in the 2023 edition before returning home when his elbow injury flared up again. With his entry into the 2025 auction, Archer is expected to attract interest once more, although franchises may proceed cautiously given his injury record.