IPL 2025: MI Sign Bairstow, Gleeson, and Asalanka as Replacements for Jacks, Rickelton, and Bosch

Mumbai – Mumbai Indians (MI) have announced the signings of Jonny Bairstow, Richard Gleeson, and Charith Asalanka as replacements for Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, and Corbin Bosch, who will depart after MI's final league match on May 26 to join their national teams.

According to an official IPL statement, the newly signed players will be available for the playoff stage, provided MI qualify for the knockouts.

Will Jacks, who returned to India last week for MI's final two league matches, will miss the playoffs due to international duty. He has been named in England's limited-overs squad for the West Indies series, which overlaps with the rescheduled IPL knockout matches. Jacks played in 11 of MI's first 12 games, scoring 195 runs in nine innings and taking five wickets with his off-spin.

He will be replaced by England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, who joins MI for ?5.25 crore. Bairstow, who went unsold in last November’s mega-auction, has not played international cricket since June 2024. He recently led Yorkshire in a County Championship match against Surrey at The Oval. Bairstow has experience in the IPL, having played 50 matches over five seasons for Sunrisers Hyderabad (2019–21) and Punjab Kings (2022 and 2024).

With Ryan Rickelton also leaving ahead of the playoffs to play in the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia, Bairstow provides an additional wicketkeeping option. Rickelton is MI’s second-highest run-scorer this season, with 336 runs at an average of 30.54 and a strike rate of 153.42 in 12 innings.

Fast bowler Richard Gleeson, who made his IPL debut last season with Chennai Super Kings as a replacement player, will take Rickelton’s spot at a reserve price of ?1 crore.

Charith Asalanka has been signed for ?75 lakh to replace Corbin Bosch, who is also heading to the WTC Final as part of South Africa’s squad.

With inputs from IANS