Due to reasons such as injury, mid-season suspension, or family emergency, some players had to leave the IPL 2025 before playing all matches. This created a void in teams and looked to sign temporary replacements for the remaining matches.
However, these temporary replacements can’t be retained for the next season, as per IPL rules. These temporary replacement players must apply for the auction pool to re-enter the league. Some players performed exceptionally well in IPL 2025, and now teams will likely go for big bids for these players in the IPL 2026 auction. Let’s have some players who can earn big in the IPL 2026 auction.
1. Jonny Bairstow: 85 Runs in 2 Matches
Mumbai Indians added Jonny Bairstow to their IPL 2025 squad as a temporary replacement for Will Jacks. Will Jacks left MI before the playoffs to fulfil national duties.
Bairstow initially went unsold at the 2025 IPL mega auction, as no teams showed interest in him. Later, he joined MI for INR 5.25 crores as a replacement.
Bairstow could only play two matches in the IPL and scored 85 runs at a strike rate of 184. He scored 47 runs off 22 balls against GT and contributed 38 off 24 balls against PBKS.
He has played six IPL seasons so far with three teams. In his 52 IPL matches, he has scored 1674 runs with an average of 34.88. He has also scored two IPL centuries, making him a standout prospect in the next IPL auction.
2. Kyle Jamieson: 7 Wickets in 4 Matches
As a replacement for the injured Lockie Ferguson, Kyle Jamieson signed with Punjab Kings in May 2025. He joined the PBKS squad for INR two crore.
In the IPL 2025 final, he took wickets of dangerous Phil Salt and captain Rajat Patidar to keep his team in the winning race.
In four IPL 2025 matches, he took seven wickets with an economy of 9.80. He also troubled RCB’s bowlers in the first qualifier with his swing in a low-scoring game.
3. Mustafizur Rahman: 4 Wickets in 3 Matches
Mustafizur Rahman got a chance to play with Delhi Capitals as a replacement player. He replaced out-of-form Jake Fraser-McGurk, who left IPL due to personal reasons.
He was granted NOC from the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the period 18-24 May 2025. Hence, he was permitted to play only three matches and was not available for the playoffs.
In his three IPL 2025 matches, he got four wickets with an economy of less than eight. He has played for five IPL franchises and taken 65 wickets in his 60 games.
4. Shivam Shukla: From A Net Bowler To A Replacement
Kolkata Knight Riders signed Shivam Shukla as a replacement for Rovman Powell. Shukla is a mystery spinner from Madhya Pradesh. We have seen franchises going bonkers for mystery spinners at the auction table, and the same can happen with Shivam.
Shivam was a net bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad before he was roped in by KKR. In the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025 last month, he took 11 wickets in seven games at an average of 16.73. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, Shivam took eight wickets in eight games at an economy of 6.30.
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Conclusion: Which Replacement Player Will Get the Highest Bid
In IPL 2025, many temporary replacements entered quietly, but their performances spoke loudly. Players like Kyle, Bairstow, and Rahman grabbed the selectors’ attention with their limited chances.
Now the IPL 2026 auction will be in early 2025, and these names could attract a big price. Keep an eye on these names; the next IPL superstar might just be one of them.
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