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Headline: Bairstow Fires Back After IPL Snub with Fiery ILT20 Knock

Dubai, UAE – Just a day after going unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction, Jonny Bairstow showcased his undeniable talent with a blistering 67-run innings for MI Emirates in the International League T20 (ILT20) 2025-26. The English opener’s knock came against the Dubai Capitals in Match 18 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, demonstrating his resilience and reminding IPL franchises of his capabilities.

Bairstow, opening the batting, proved to be the backbone of the MI Emirates innings, which ultimately ended at 137/8 in their allotted 20 overs. While wickets fell around him, no other batsman surpassed 20 runs, with Bairstow anchoring two crucial partnerships: a 40-run opening stand with Muhammad Waseem and a subsequent 49-run stand with Nicholas Pooran.

The 36-year-old’s aggressive innings of 67 from 40 balls featured 8 boundaries and 3 towering sixes, showcasing his signature power-hitting. This performance brings his career T20 run tally to 6,098 runs in 250 matches (233 innings) at an average of 30.95. It also marks his 32nd T20 fifty, adding to his five centuries. He now boasts an impressive 275 sixes in his T20 career.

Despite having a strong IPL record, with 1,674 runs at an average of 34.87 in 52 matches, including a stint with the Mumbai Indians last season where he displayed his ability to score quick-fire 40s, Bairstow surprisingly found himself without a team following Tuesday’s auction. His ILT20 campaign, however, is proving to be a strong statement. So far in the tournament, he has notched up 203 runs at an average of 40.60 in 6 matches. His knock on Wednesday will undoubtedly have turned some heads and may lead to a mid-season call-up to the IPL or other global T20 leagues.

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