IPL 2025: Jonny Bairstow in talks to replace Will Jacks in MI squad for remainder of the tournament

Will Jacks will not be available for MI for the playoffs stage in IPL 2025.

The five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to replace the outgoing Will Jacks with his English teammate, Jonny Bairstow, for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. The IPL 18, which was paused on May 9 due to border tensions between India and Pakistan, will resume on May 17.

Jacks has played in 11 of MI’s first 12 group-stage games this season, making him a fixture. In nine innings, he has amassed 195 runs and claimed five wickets with his off breaks. In their victories over the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Lucknow Super Giants at home, he was also named Player of the Match.

Jacks, who was signed for Rs 5.25 crores, has returned to India for the IPL 2025 resumption. However, he will be unavailable for the season’s final stages owing to international service, since England’s ODI series against the West Indies conflicts with the rescheduled knockout stage.

Jonny Bairstow is in line to replace Will Jacks in MI

If MI go to IPL 2025 playoffs, Jonny Bairstow is in advanced negotiations to join them as a temporary Will Jacks replacement.

Bairstow has not featured for England in any capacity since June 2024 and was not sold in the November mega-auction. According to ESPNcricinfo, Bairstow is expected to take his spot in the knockout stages, provided he receives a No-Objection Certificate.

Jonny Bairstow has played in five seasons and 50 IPL games. He has played for Punjab Kings in 2022 and 2024 and Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019–21.

In addition to having two IPL hundreds, including one during a run chase that set a record at the Eden Gardens last year, he has an outstanding league record, averaging 34.54 and hitting at 144.45.

His inclusion in the team will enable MI to start Ryan Rickelton in place of him. Rickelton is a top-order wicket-keeper batter, just like Bairstow. Along with fellow countryman Corbin Bosch, he was picked in South Africa’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final team on Tuesday and will not be eligible to compete in the IPL 2025 playoffs.

On May 21, MI will play their 13th league game against the Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After that, they will travel to Jaipur to play the Punjab Kings at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. With 14 points from 12 games so far, MI are still very much in the running for the IPL 2025 playoffs under Hardik Pandya’s leadership.

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