IPL 2025: Jonny Bairstow Likely to Join Mumbai Indians as Will Jacks’ Playoff Replacement

Mumbai Indians are likely to bring in England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow as a temporary replacement for Will Jacks if they qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs.

According to reports from ESPNcricinfo, Bairstow is in advanced discussions with the franchise and is awaiting a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to confirm the move.

Jacks, who has been a key player for MI this season, will be unavailable during the playoffs due to his national commitments in England’s ODI series against West Indies.

Bairstow to Return to IPL After a Year’s Gap

Jonny Bairstow went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega option held last November and hasn’t played for England in any format since June 2024.

However, he is now expected to join MI’s squad after completing his County Championship game for Yorkshire against Surrey this week.

If the deal goes through, he will miss one County match and two T20 Blast fixtures.

Bairstow is no stranger to the IPL. He has played 50 matches in the league for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings, scoring at an average of 34.54 with a strike rate of 144.45. He has two IPL centuries to his name, including one in a famous run chase at Eden Gardens last year.

Will Jacks Played a Key Role for MI

Will Jacks featured in 11 out of 12 group-stage games for Mumbai Indians this season.

He contributed both with the bat and the ball, scoring 195 runs in 9 innings and picking up 5 wickets.

He also picked up Player-of-the-Match awards in games against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants.

MI currently sit fourth on the points table with two games left in the league stage – against Delhi Capitals on May 21 and Punjab Kings on May 26.

The team went on a six-match winning run before narrowly losing to Gujarat Titans just before the season was temporarily suspended due to political tensions between India and Pakistan.