Mumbai Indians (MI) have signed Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson, and Charith Asalanka in place of Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, and Corbin Bosch. The three will miss the games after May 26 when MI play their last league match since they have national team commitments.
According to the IPL statement, these substitute players will join the squad starting from the playoffs, provided Mumbai Indians qualify for the knockout stages.
Will Jacks, who returned to India last week ahead of MI’s last two group matches, will miss the remainder of the tournament due to international duty. He has been selected in England’s limited-overs squad for the West Indies series, which overlaps with the rescheduled knockout phase.
The English allrounder played in 11 out of MI’s first 12 matches, scoring 195 runs in nine innings and taking five wickets with his off-spin. His spot will be filled by fellow England player Jonny Bairstow, who has been signed by MI for Rs 5.25 crore.
Bairstow, who remained unsold at last November's mega-auction, had not played for England in any format since June 2024. Bairstow arrived in India after leading Yorkshire against Surrey in the County Championship at The Oval. Bairstow has featured in five IPL seasons to date, having played 50 matches, previously playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad (2019-21) and Punjab Kings (2022 and 2024).
With Ryan Rickelton set to leave before the playoffs for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, Bairstow also provides MI with an additional wicketkeeping option. Rickelton has been MI’s second-highest scorer this season after Rohit Sharma, amassing 336 runs in 12 innings at an average of 30.54 and a strike rate of 153.42.
English paceman Richard Gleeson, who featured for Chennai Super Kings in two games last season as a replacement, will take the place of Rickelton. Gleeson has been bought at a reserve price of Rs 1 crore.
Charith Asalanka will also take the place of Corbin Bosch, who has been named in the South African squad for the WTC final at Lord's. Asalanka is drafted in at a reserve price of Rs 75 lakh.
