The 38-year-old England batter Jonny Bairstow may attract high stakes in the coming 2026 IPL mini auction scheduled on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. The former Punjab Kings batter, who played as a replacement batter for Mumbai Indians in the 2025 IPL, has registered himself for the auction at the INR 1 crore base price. Even though an overseas player cannot get more than INR 18 crore in salary, there are high chances of Jonny Bairstow initiating a paddle war. Notably, Bairstow went unsold in 2025 IPL Mega Auction. MI got him for ₹5.25 crore after Will Jacks left for his commitment for the national teams. Why Bairstow Would Be a Valuable Pick in IPL 2026? Jonny Bairstow is a big-hitting opening batter. Not only that, he is a full-time wicketkeeper, which saves a roster spot letting teams fit an extra batter or bowler. Bairstow is known for punishing bowling early and striking quickly — something IPL teams highly value, especially at the top of the order. His ability to impose himself from ball one makes him ideal as a high-impact batsman in the powerplay and middle overs. Not only that, unlike some overseas players with long international commitments, Bairstow is currently focused on T20 leagues, meaning he’s more likely to be available throughout the IPL season — a key consideration for franchises. Notably, Bairstow had started his IPL journey in 2019, with Sunrisers Hyderabad. he then came to Punjab Kings, where he played in 2024 and 2025. It was him scoring a century (108* off 48) in the historic win at Eden Gardens against Eden Gardens while chasing 262 runs. In 52 matches, he scored 1674 runs, with his highest run being 114. He had his strike rate around 146 averaging 34.87. He scored 9 half centuries and 2 centuries. Who can target Jonny Bairstow in the 2026 IPL mini auction? Teams that are looking for a big hitter that can exploit the power play can go after Jonny Bairstow. Here are three teams that can go after him. Delhi Capitals (DC) DC have been highlighted as a strong candidate to go after Bairstow because: They released Jake Fraser-McGurk, creating a top-order vacancy. They need more explosive batting options to support their core.So Bairstow’s batting + keeping could fill that gap well. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) KKR enter the auction with one of the largest purses among all teams, and have limited top-order keeper/batter options beyond De Kock and Gurbaz. Bairstow’s skillset fits both batting firepower and WK flexibility for them. Punjab Kings (PBKS) Some preview lists include Bairstow among the key players PBKS might target to strengthen batting depth and replace overseas roles like Josh Inglis. While they’re not always mentioned first, PBKS could target him if they want an aggressive foreign batter with keeping ability.