After being announced as one of three potential replacement signings for the Mumbai Indians even before the IPL 2025 Playoffs line-up was announced, England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow could be immediately up for action in the Eliminator match against the Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh on Friday.
Replacing his English compatriot, Will Jacks, Bairstow joined the for INR 5.25 crore solely for the Playoffs matches. Bairstow is, however, likely to replace South Africa opener Ryan Rickelton in the XI as the wicket-keeping option for the remainder of their campaign.
“It’s not like MI are at odds to whether to play them or not play them. Bairstow’s there. He’s an proven player. He’s come in with this opportunity in some very good form for Yorkshire,” former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody said on ESPNcricinfo while factoring in the Englishman’s addition.
Bairstow is aiming for his first IPL match since his last stint with in the league. Despite being a part of the squad, Bairstow did not get a 2023 and featured in 11 matches last season. The 35-year-old, however, has established a respectable record in the IPL, mainly on the back of a strong profile with the between 2019 and 2021 and a superb 108 not out for PBKS in the league’s record 262-run chase against last season.
In 10 games in the 2019 season, Bairstow whipped up 445 runs for , laced with a century and two fifties. Bairstow aggregated runs at 157.14 strike rate that season, his best across four editions in the league. Overall, Bairstow has accumulated 1600 runs in 51 IPL matches, averaging 34.78 and striking at 144.53 per 100 deliveries.
Bairstow is likely to team up with , who himself has endured a streaky patch in the league this season. MI’s top-order woes have been masked largely by the brilliance of who has crossed 25-plus runs in every innings and broke ’s record for for MI in an IPL season.
Bairstow last featured in a T20 with the Joburg Super Kings in February. The 35-year-old registered 232 runs in 10 innings for JSK with a solitary half-century in the 2025 edition.
