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Jonny Bairstow risks IPL 2026 selection with Yorkshire County contract extension

Aakash Saini

Jonny Bairstow [Source: @TheBarmyArmy/x]Jonny Bairstow [Source: @TheBarmyArmy/x]

England international Jonny Bairstow has extended his Yorkshire contract by another three County Championship seasons from 2026 to 2028. His two-year central contract expired at the end of the 2025 season, i.e., over a year-and-a-half since the cricketer last played a Test match for England.

Jonny Bairstow will continue to serve Yorkshire as their captain after he was appointed for the high-profile role earlier this year. Notably, the seasoned English pro might very well be jeopardising his IPL 2026 prospects just before the auction by signing up with Yorkshire, considering a segment of the England-based County Championship largely coincides with the BCCI’s lucrative T20 extravaganza in India.

Jonny Bairstow prioritizes red-ball cricket amid England snub over IPL

At the age of 36, ageing veteran Jonny Bairstow has decided to prioritise red-ball cricket over becoming a T20 specialist by signing a three-year contract extension with the Yorkshire cricket club. He played 12 matches for Yorkshire this year, as a captain no less, aggregating 735 runs in 19 innings at an average of 45.93, punching out seven half-centuries in the process as he continues to make a compelling case for an England Test recall.

Jonny Bairstow’s renewed contract with Yorkshire indicates that the wicketkeeper-batter, in all likelihood, will miss the initial fixtures of the IPL 2026 season next year if he gets selected at the auction. As per an ESPNCricinfo report, Bairstow is planning to enter the auction, which is expected to be organised by the BCCI in December next month.

England’s all-format veteran played a couple of matches for the Mumbai Indians franchise earlier this year during IPL 2025, scoring 85 runs in two innings at a blistering strike rate of 184.78. He was roped in by the franchise late in the tournament as a temporary replacement for fellow Englishman Will Jacks.

As of now, it remains to be seen if any IPL franchise will take a gamble on Jonny Bairstow at the upcoming auction, given his renewed commitment to Yorkshire and the scheduling clash that could limit his availability for the early stages of the 2026 season.