Jonny Bairstow signs new deal ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Jonny Bairstow has decided to stay loyal to his roots by signing a new three-year deal with the Yorkshire County Cricket Club ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. With this deal, Jonny Bairstow has retained his position as Yorkshire’s captain in the County Championship.

However, the England wicketkeeper-batter could miss the first two months’ matches in the County Championship to play in the IPL. Bairstow’s central contract with England was due to end at the end of 2025, and he has not even played for them for more than a year.

Jonny Bairstow signs new three-year deal with Yorkshire

Despite this, the 36-year-old has opted to continue leading Yorkshire in the longer format of the game instead of focusing only on T20 cricket. The explosive batter’s decision highlights that he still has unfinished business in red-ball cricket.

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Well, if Jonny Bairstow gets picked in the IPL 2026 auction next month, he will likely skip Yorkshire’s early-season matches. The right-handed batter cannot be retained by the Mumbai Indians despite two decent performances for them in the IPL 2025, where he scored 47 and 38 as a late replacement.

Now, the Englishman is now hoping for another shot in the IPL 2026 auction. In his IPL career, Bairstow has so far managed 1674 runs in 52 innings with the help of two centuries and nine fifties at an average of 34.87 and a strike rate of 146.

Gavin Hamilton hails Jonny Bairstow as Yorkshire’s game-changer after contract extension

Meanwhile, Yorkshire had a mixed year, finishing seventh in Division One of the County Championship and second-last in the T20 Blast’s North Group. However, the young Yorkshire team managed to qualify for the semi-finals of the Metro Bank Cup.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Director of Cricket, Gavin Hamilton, expressed joy over Bairstow’s long-term commitment. He praised Bairstow as one of the finest batters in England.

Hamilton stated, “Jonny remains one of the best batters in the English game, capable of changing a game single-handedly, and we are very lucky to have him on our side.”

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Jonny Bairstow promises to lead Yorkshire with pride for the next three years

Speaking on signing a fresh deal with Yorkshire, Bairstow said, "I'm delighted to have signed a contract extension and am looking forward to playing my part in what is a hugely exciting period for Yorkshire. Having come through the age groups and spent all of my career here, it was the only real choice for me, and I'll continue to wear the White Rose with pride over the next three years.”

The star wicketkeeper added, “Leading the side in the Championship this year was a real honor, and I can't wait to get back out there in 2026. The performances we put in, particularly in the second half of the campaign, were very encouraging, and I am confident that we have got a group of players that can challenge the very best teams over the next few years.”

Bairstow is currently at Headingley for pre-season fitness tests, and he has a busy winter ahead. The Englishman already has contracts with MI Emirates for the ILT20 in the UAE and Sunrisers Eastern Cape for the SA20 in South Africa. Now, he is hoping to get a deal at the IPL 2026 auction.