If the Mumbai Indians (MI) are to make it to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 playoffs, Jonny Bairstow is reportedly in talks to join the Hardik Pandya-led team as a temporary Will Jacks replacement.
Jacks will play in MI’s final two league games now that he is in India. However, if MI advance to the playoffs, Jacks would have to leave India to serve his country since he was selected in England’s team for their forthcoming ODI and T20I series against the West Indies, which starts on May 29. The IPL playoffs start on May 29 after the round-robin stage concludes on May 27.
Subject to a No-Object Certificate, Bairstow is expected to start in the playoffs in place of his countryman, according to ESPNcricinfo. Since June 2024, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter has not played for England in any capacity, and he was not sold at the November mega-auction. After leading Yorkshire against Surrey at The Oval in the County Championship this week, Bairstow would head to India. If the agreement with MI goes through, he will primarily miss one Championship game and two T20 Blast matches.
Jacks has been crucial to MI’s comeback, particularly after the five-time winners had a terrible start to the season. In nine innings, he has amassed 195 runs with a strike rate of 129.14 and an average of 24.38.
In the IPL 2025, Will Jacks has also claimed five wickets.
Bairstow, meanwhile, has participated in 50 IPL matches and amassed 1,589 runs with a strike rate of 144.46 and an average of 34.54. He helped his club chase down a record 262-run target at the Eden Gardens last season when he produced the game-winning century for Punjab Kings against eventual champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
MI has played 12 games and has 14 points. They have five losses and seven victories. On Wednesday, May 21, the Mumbai-based team will play the Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium to start their campaign.
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