Jonny Bairstow is in talks to join Mumbai Indians as a temporary replacement for Will Jacks, if the team makes it to the playoffs. Jacks has returned to India and is expected to play MI’s last two league matches, but he won’t be available for the playoffs due to England’s ODI series against West Indies, which clashes with the rescheduled knockout matches. According to Reports, Bairstow could step in for him, as long as he gets the required No-Objection Certificate (NOC).

Bairstow went unsold in last year’s auction and hasn’t played for England since June 2024. If everything goes as planned, he’ll fly to India after leading Yorkshire against Surrey in the County Championship this week. He would miss one Championship game and a couple of T20 Blast matches if he joins MI.

The experienced English batter has played 50 IPL games across five seasons, turning out for Sunrisers Hyderabad (2019-2021) and Punjab Kings (2022, 2024). He has a great record, with an average of 34.54 and a strike rate of 144.45. He also has two IPL hundreds, including a memorable one during a record chase at Eden Gardens last season against KKR.

🚨 JONNY BAIRSTOW IN IPL. 🚨

- Bairstow set to replace Will Jacks in Mumbai Indians' squad for IPL 2025. (Espncricinfo). pic.twitter.com/5ltgPgY4zX

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 15, 2025

Will Jacks has been an important player for MI this season, featuring in 11 of their first 12 games. He has scored 195 runs and taken five wickets with his off-spin. He was named Player of the Match in two key home wins against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants.

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Mumbai Indians are currently in fourth place on the points table, with two league games left against Delhi Capitals on May 21 and Punjab Kings on May 26. After a slow start to the season, they bounced back with six wins in a row, but lost narrowly to Gujarat Titans just before the tournament was paused due to tensions between India and Pakistan. MI could also lose Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch for the playoffs, as both have been picked in South Africa’s squad for the World Test Championship final next month.

Mumbai Indians have approached Sri Lanka's white-ball captain Charith Asalanka to sign for the team for the rest of the IPL 2025 season, it is learnt. The signing is a response to the franchise being hit by the unavailability of some of its key overseas players during the decisive playoff stage because of international commitments. South African cricketers Corbin Bosch and Ryan Rickelton, and England's Will Jacks, will likely sit out the playoffs if Mumbai Indians make it to the playoffs. With the resumption of IPL on May 17 after it was suspended for a week, MI is looking to bolster its team for the grueling fight ahead.

Asalanka, who is respected for his quality batting style and off-spin attack, is being viewed as Will Jacks' like-for-like replacement. The two batsmen both bat in the number three position and have the ability to open the batting when needed as well. Both of these added options are immensely valuable to the Mumbai lineup, given that captain Rohit Sharma captains the team.

Asalanka set to boost Mumbai Indians’ playoff push with key skills

Mumbai Indians are currently fourth in the points table with seven victories from twelve games. Their previous match before the suspension of the IPL was a defeat against the Gujarat Titans, so their remaining matches are important for playoff qualification. MI will have to win both of the next two matches to stay alive in the playoffs without depending on other outcomes.

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Despite talks between the Mumbai Indians and Asalanka reported to be taking place, there has been no public confirmation made by either party yet. The agreement could now be finalized, according to sources, with the IPL schedule pushed back to June 3 after previous disruptions, so a hectic and tense conclusion to the competition is a distinct possibility.

Asalanka's inclusion adds not just depth in batting but also a spin option to the well-balanced MI side. The Sri Lankan captain's expertise in white-ball cricket at the international level will be valuable in the pressure-cooker games to come. With the playoffs approaching, Mumbai Indians' decision to sign Charith Asalanka may be the turning point in their bid for a sixth IPL title. Fans will be keen to observe how this new addition affects the team's dynamics in the last part of the season.

Gujarat Titans (GT) have acquired Sri Lankan star Kusal Mendis as a replacement for Jos Buttler for the rest of the IPL 2025 season, reported Live Mint on May 15, 2025. Buttler, who has been in good touch for GT, scoring 392 runs in 11 games at a strike rate of 145, will be out of the playoffs due to England's white-ball series against the West Indies that begins on May 29, which overlaps with the latter stages of the IPL, including the June 3 final. GT, currently atop the points table with 16 points from 11 games, will depend on Mendis to replace the void as they look to win their second IPL title.

Mendis, an aggressive wicketkeeper-batter, adds experience and panache to GT's lineup, having played 64 ODIs and scored 1,294 runs at 31.56 and 71 T20Is and scored 1,588 runs at a strike rate of 134.29. This is his first IPL stint, and he is the second Sri Lankan player on GT's team this season after Dasun Shanaka. The 30-year-old's prowess at holding innings and striking at the right moment makes him the ideal replacement for Buttler, particularly in the high-stakes playoff games. His stint begins with Qualifier 1 on May 30.

This decision follows Buttler's exit, which was confirmed following national obligations, a common issue for IPL franchises this season as a host of overseas players, among them South Africa's Kagiso Rabada and Australia's Pat Cummins, also missed games for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. GT's administration moved quickly to capture Mendis, whose recent run in Sri Lanka's domestic competition, such as a century in the Lanka Premier League, lends solidity to their batting lineup.

Mendis' Contribution towards GT's Playoff Chase

Mendis will play as an opener with Shubman Gill and will be a solid customer at the top order, offering some options as a wicketkeeper. His performance in big events such as the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he scored 223 runs, will be crucial for GT as they head into the playoffs to face strong competitors in the form of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).

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GT's strategic replacement indicates their determination to have a solid team even in the absence of Buttler. With Mendis on board, the Titans are set to go far in the IPL 2025 playoffs, looking to repeat their 2022 victory under Hardik Pandya's captaincy.