The IPL 2025 edition undoubtedly witnessed the most exciting and thrilling playoffs in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The playoffs are often hailed as the most crucial phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with the top four teams qualifying after the league stage after playing a total of fourteen matches each.
The playoff system of the Indian Premier League offers the top two teams of the season a second chance to secure a place in the finals. The high-stakes knockout playoff of the IPL 2025 season witnessed numerous franchises onboarding some of the most prominent names as temporary replacements for their injured players in order to secure their spot in the final match of the tournament.
In this article we will take a look at the top four players who were signed by the franchises just for the IPL playoffs.
IPL 2025 : Top 4 Players Who Were Signed Just For The Playoffs
Jonny Bairstow – Mumbai Indians (MI)
The 35-year-old legendary English international cricketer Jonathan Marc Bairstow, often popularly referred to as “Jonny Bairstow”, is at the first spot in our list of the top four players who were signed only for the IPL 2025 playoffs.
The English wicket-keeper-batter, Jonny Bairstow, who went unsold at the TATA IPL 2025 mega auction, was boarded by the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise for a staggering INR 5.25 crore during the Eliminator match against Gujarat Titans as a replacement for Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, and Corbin Bosch who departed from the MI squad in order to fulfill national commitments ahead of the World Test Championship Final.
Kusal Mendis – Gujarat Titans (GT)
At the second spot in our list of the top four players who were signed by the franchises just for the IPL playoffs, we have the Sri Lankan professional cricketer, Kusal Mendis, who plays in all forms of the game and is a former ODI captain of the national team. Kusal Mendis was roped in by the Gujarat Titans (GT) franchise for a whopping INR 75 lakhs as a replacement for Jos Buttler, who witnessed a shocking departure from the GT squad for the IPL 2025 season due to national duties.
Interestingly, Kusal Mendis opted out of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) in order to join the Gujarat Titans (GT) franchise during the Eliminator match against the Mumbai Indians on May 30, 2025, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium.
Richard Gleeson – Mumbai Indians (MI)
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four players who were signed only for the IPL 2025 playoffs, we have iconic English bowler Richard Gleeson, who plays for Lancashire in domestic cricket and made his international debut for the England cricket team in July 2022.
Richard Gleeson was picked up by the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise for a whopping reserve price of INR 1 crore as a replacement for Rickelton during the Eliminator match against the Gujarat Titans on May 30, 2025. Richard Gleeson proved his worth and dismissed Sai Sudharsan, the leading run-scorer of the IPL 2025 edition, and assisted the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad to Qualifier 2.
Tim Seifert – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four players who were signed by the franchises just for the IPL playoffs, we have the New Zealand international cricketer, Tim Seifert, who was a crucial part of New Zealand’s squad for the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. Tim Seifert made his IPL 2025 debut for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise during the playoffs as a replacement for Jacob Bethell, who shockingly departed from the IPL 2025 season in order to fulfill his national duties.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) acquired Tim Seifert, who went unsold at the TATA IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah in November 2024, for a staggering INR 2 crore in order to strengthen their bowling attack during the high-pressure playoffs.
