Punjab Kings enter IPL 2026 as runners-up, having lost the 2025 IPL Final to RCB. Under new captain Shreyas Iyer, PBKS boast a formidable squad with Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson and Marcus Stoinis forming a fearsome all-round attack.
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali
Titles Won
0 (Runners-up: 2014, 2025)
IPL 2026 Group
Group A
PBKS IPL 2026 Complete Squad (25 Players)
Retained Players (21)
Player
Role
Nationality
Shreyas Iyer (C)
Batter
India
Arshdeep Singh
Bowler (Left-arm fast)
India
Yuzvendra Chahal
Bowler (Leg spin)
India
Lockie Ferguson
Bowler (Right-arm fast)
New Zealand
Marcus Stoinis
All-rounder
Australia
Marco Jansen
All-rounder (Left-arm fast)
South Africa
Prabhsimran Singh
Wicketkeeper / Batter
India
Shashank Singh
Batter / Finisher
India
Priyansh Arya
Batter / Opener
India
Musheer Khan
Batter
India
Nehal Wadhera
Batter
India
Azmatullah Omarzai
All-rounder
Afghanistan
Harpreet Brar
Bowler (Left-arm spin)
India
Harnoor Singh Pannu
Batter / Opener
India
Yash Thakur
Bowler (Right-arm fast)
India
Vyshak Vijaykumar
Bowler (Right-arm fast)
India
Vishnu Vinod
Wicketkeeper / Batter
India
Xavier Bartlett
Bowler (Right-arm fast)
Australia
Mitch Owen
Batter / Opener
Australia
Suryansh Shedge
All-rounder
India
Pyla Avinash
Bowler
India
Auction Buys (4)
Player
Role
Price
Nationality
Ben Dwarshuis
Bowler (Left-arm fast)
₹4.40 crore
Australia
Cooper Connolly
All-rounder
₹3 crore
Australia
Vishal Nishad
Bowler
₹30 lakh
India
Pravin Dubey
Bowler (Leg spin)
₹30 lakh
India
Note: Arshdeep Singh was T20 WC 2026 champion with India. Lockie Ferguson played in the T20 WC 2026 Final for New Zealand.
PBKS Probable Playing XI for IPL 2026
#
Player
Role
1
Prabhsimran Singh (WK)
Wicketkeeper / Opener
2
Priyansh Arya
Opener / Batter
3
Shreyas Iyer (C)
Batter
4
Marcus Stoinis
All-rounder
5
Shashank Singh
Finisher / Batter
6
Nehal Wadhera
Batter
7
Azmatullah Omarzai
All-rounder
8
Marco Jansen
All-rounder / Pacer
9
Arshdeep Singh
Pacer (Left-arm)
10
Yuzvendra Chahal
Leg-spinner
11
Lockie Ferguson
Pacer
PBKS IPL 2026 Strengths
Arshdeep Singh — T20 WC 2026 champion with India; India’s premier powerplay bowler and one of the best left-arm pacers in T20 cricket.
Shreyas Iyer — Led KKR to the 2024 IPL title; brings proven championship-winning experience to PBKS.
Yuzvendra Chahal — IPL’s all-time highest wicket-taker; a match-winner on any surface.
Marcus Stoinis — Destructive power-hitting all-rounder who can win games with bat or ball.
Lockie Ferguson — Express pace in the death overs; one of the most feared fast bowlers in T20 cricket.
PBKS IPL 2026 Concerns
Two IPL finals (2014, 2025) and still no title — PBKS must finally break their knockout curse.
Opening combination beyond Prabhsimran needs clarity; Mitch Owen and Priyansh Arya are competing.
Middle-order depth outside Stoinis and Shashank Singh remains a concern in big knockout games.
PBKS IPL 2026 Verdict
Punjab Kings have arguably their most complete squad in recent years. With Shreyas Iyer’s winning mentality and Arshdeep Singh leading a potent attack, PBKS are genuine dark horses for the 2026 IPL title.
KKR are IPL 2026’s most injury-hit team: Harshit Rana is out for the entire season after knee surgery, while ₹18 crore buy Matheesha Pathirana is still in Colombo rehabbing a calf injury and only arrives March 17 — giving him under 2 weeks to prepare. KKR have opted against an injury replacement.
Today is the final deadline for binding bids to buy RCB and Rajasthan Royals. Five parties have dropped out, leaving EQT Group (frontrunner at $2B+) and two others bidding for RCB, and Aditya Birla Group leading the RR race. Full breakdown of who’s in, who’s out and what happens next.
Josh Hazlewood is still awaiting medical clearance from Cricket Australia ahead of IPL 2026, putting RCB’s bowling plans in serious doubt. SRH captain Pat Cummins faces an identical fitness race. Both are being monitored by physios with just 12 days to go before the March 28 opener.
IPL 2026 full injury list: KKR in deepest trouble with Harshit Rana OUT all season and Pathirana still in Colombo. RCB’s Josh Hazlewood doubtful, LSG’s Hasaranga out 2 weeks. MS Dhoni knee rumours dismissed — he’s fully fit. RR are healthiest team. Full update for all 10 teams.
BCCI Naman Awards 2026 full winners list: Shubman Gill wins Polly Umrigar Award (2nd time), Smriti Mandhana named Best Women’s Cricketer (record 5th time), Rahul Dravid & Mithali Raj get Lifetime Achievement. Harshit Rana collects debut award on crutches.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi jokes he’ll score 2000 runs in IPL 2026 — and recalls telling Sanju Samson and Rahul Dravid “Pehla hi uda denge” before his debut. The 14-year-old RR sensation turns 15 on March 27, one day before IPL 2026 begins.
