England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow is expected to take the place of Will Jacks at Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2025 final stage. According to ESPN Cricinfo, Bairstow, who has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings earlier, is in talks with MI for an emergency replacement in case the team makes it to the playoffs.
Jacks, who was bought by MI for Rs. 5.25 crore last year, is back in India but will not be available for the playoffs due to international commitments. Having played 11 out of the 12 games so far for MI, he has now been selected for the England ODI squad for a series against the West Indies.
Should Bairstow be signed, he could open the innings or play at No. 3, with his arrival meaning the dropping of Ryan Rickelton from the playing eleven. Rickelton, a fellow top-order wicketkeeper, also finds himself unavailable now having been named for South Africa in the WTC 2025 final. MI has a well-stocked bowling lineup, so Santner and Topley would ease the blow of Bosch’s absence, but losing Rickelton, who has accumulated the second-most runs for MI, will sting.
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On May 21, Mumbai Indians would take on Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede, after which they would be heading to Jaipur to lock horns with Punjab Kings. At present, MI have 14 points from 12 games and still remain in the reckoning for the IPL 2025 playoffs.
