Jofra Archer is leading the fast bowling attack for the Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2026 match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday, April 10. In the fixture taking place at Barsapara Cricket
Stadium in Guwahati, Archer bowled the first over of RCB’s innings and picked up their opener Phil Salt’s wicket on the first ball of the match. Salt had no clue about how to tackle the super delivery bowled by Archer and handed a simple catch to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.
The wicket of Salt on the first ball of the match helped Archer equal Lasith Malinga’s record of taking a wicket on the first ball of an innings most times in the IPL by an overseas bowler. Malinga played 122 IPL matches for the Mumbai Indians from 2009 to 2019 and picked up a wicket on the first ball of an innings three times. On the other hand, the ongoing IPL 2026 match between RR and RCB in Guwahati is Archer’s 56th IPL match, and he has also picked up a wicket on the first ball of the innings three times.
Apart from Archer and Malinga, Trent Boult and Pat Cummins have also picked up a wicket on the first ball of the innings three times in the IPL among overseas bowlers.
Most times taking wicket on first-ball of an innings in IPL
- 3 – Trent Boult (SRH, KKR, DC, MI, RR)
- 3 – Lasith Malinga (MI)
- 3 – Pat Cummins (KKR, DC, SRH)
- 3 – Jofra Archer (RR, MI)
Mohammed Shami, who is part of the Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2026 squad, has picked up a wicket on the first ball of an IPL innings five times.
Most times taking wicket on first-ball of an innings in IPL
- 5 – Mohammed Shami
- 3 – Praveen Kumar
- 3 – Umesh Yadav
- 3 – Trent Boult
- 3 – Lasith Malinga
- 3 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- 3 – Ashok Dinda
- 3 – Pat Cummins
- 3 – Jofra Archer
In the IPL, apart from Rajasthan Royals, Archer has also played 5 matches for Mumbai Indians in the 2023 edition and picked up 2 wickets.
The wicket of Salt on the first ball of the match has helped Archer equal Shane Watson’s record of most wickets by an overseas bowler for RR in the IPL. Watson played 78 IPL matches for RR from 2008 to 2015 and dismissed 61 batters, whereas the ongoing match in Guwahati is Archer’s 51st IPL match for the Jaipur-based franchise. If he manages to take one more wicket in the ongoing match, then he will become RR’s highest overseas wicket-taker in the cash-rich league.
