Live television cameras captured England pacer Jofra Archer taking a nap in the team’s dugout during the third ODI against India in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The moment quickly went viral on social media, sparking reactions from fans and commentators alike.
The incident occurred in the 25th over of England’s innings, as they were chasing a mammoth target of 357 runs set by India. While Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone were battling in the middle, the cameras panned to the dugout, where Archer was seen resting. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who was on commentary at the time, humorously remarked, “Nice time for a nap.”
Jofra Archer Performance on India Tour
Archer featured in four out of five T20Is and played one ODI during England’s tour of India. However, the speedster struggled to make a significant impact, picking up just seven wickets across formats. His underwhelming performance, combined with the demanding schedule, may have contributed to his exhaustion, leading to the viral nap moment.
India’s Dominant Victory Over England
The match itself was a one-sided affair, with Team India delivering a commanding 142-run victory, completing a 3-0 clean sweep in the ODI series. Shubman Gill was the star of the show, smashing a brilliant 112-run century, his seventh in ODIs. Virat Kohli (52) and Shreyas Iyer (78) also made crucial contributions, guiding India to a formidable total of 356/9.
India’s bowlers then took center stage, dismantling England’s batting lineup and bowling them out for just 214 runs in 34.2 overs. This emphatic win marked India’s second-largest ODI victory against England in terms of runs.
England’s Batting Collapse Against Spin
Despite getting off to a promising start with Ben Duckett (34) and Phil Salt (24) putting up an aggressive opening stand, England’s middle order crumbled once again—particularly against India’s spinners. The familiar struggle against spin proved costly, sealing England’s fate in the series.
A Tough Tour for England
With this crushing defeat, England’s struggles on Indian soil continued. While the visitors showed glimpses of brilliance, they failed to maintain consistency across all three matches. As they reflect on this disappointing series, Archer’s viral nap moment became an unexpected talking point, adding a lighthearted twist to England’s tough outing.