IPL 2025: Jonny Bairstow set to replace Will Jacks in Mumbai Indians squad; fans welcome 'British Rohit'

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to resume on May 17 after a week of unexpected scenarios. Meanwhile, in a surprising turn of events, the team Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to replace the outgoing Will Jacks with his English teammate, Jonny Bairstow, for the remaining season.

According to ESPN Cricinfo, the Mumbai Indians made this move because Will Jacks is set to feature in the England squad for the West Indies series and will have to leave the IPL midway.

Moreover, Jonny Bairstow and Richard Gleeson are in advanced talks to sign with MI as temporary replacements, as per the report.

Credit: X

Why did MI choose Jonny Bairstow as a replacement for Will Jacks?

The 35-year-old English cricketer will replace Jacks for the knockout stages, subject to a No-Objection Certificate. During November's mega-auction, Bairstow went unsold and has not played for England in any format since June 2024.

However, he has played for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2024 season and has also represented Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in earlier editions. Not only this, but he was also an integral part of MI's starting XI; however, because of the suspension of the IPL, the schedule was changed, and it collided with England¡¯s series with the Windies.

? JONNY BAIRSTOW IN IPL. ?

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

¡ª Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 15, 2025

A look at Jonny Bairstow¡¯s career

So far, Bairstow has made 50 IPL appearances across five seasons and had earlier represented Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019 and 2021 and Punjab Kings in 2022 and 2024.

He has had an impressive record in the league so far, with an average of 34.54 and a striking rate of 144.45. He has scored two IPL hundreds; one of them was at Eden Gardens in 2024.

Credit: X

Netizens react to Jonny Bairstow¡¯s entry to MI

As soon as the news surfaced on social media, netizens couldn't keep calm. A Reddit post dedicated to the same, where users shared reactions like, ¡°That's just British Rohit.¡±

Comment
byu/KepaArrizabalaga from discussion
inCricket

While another said, ¡°Well, more than half of the runs came in 2019 and 2020. Was in PBKS last year, just played 1 great innings, but was below par in the rest of the games, doesn't really fit the consistency criteria.¡±

Comment
byu/KepaArrizabalaga from discussion
inCricket

¡°Honestly MI's will miss Jack's bowling option more than the affect this has on the batting line-up¡±

Comment
byu/KepaArrizabalaga from discussion
inCricket

¡°He is a white Rohit Sharma. It's either going to be 12-2 or 70-0 inside the powerplay¡±

¡°This has Bairstow scoring runs against RCB in the final energy for some reason,¡± one said.

Comment
byu/KepaArrizabalaga from discussion
inCricket

Another replied, ¡°He has that Hyderabad experience in him. He has it in him to bully RCB.¡±

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