Overview:
One of the key decisions PBKS may be considering is Glenn Maxwell's contribution to the team. The Australian all-rounder, apart from a few stellar seasons, has not lived up to his reputation.
As the IPL 2026 retention deadline draws near, Punjab Kings (PBKS), who finished runners-up last season, are gearing up for another challenge. With just two days left to finalise their squad, the pressure will be high on PBKS, who face big expectations going into the new season. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, PBKS came agonisingly close to their maiden title, falling just six runs short in a thrilling final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
As PBKS look to strengthen their squad, they will continue to rely on the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Shashank Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal. Each of these players delivered standout performances in IPL 2025. Iyer led the charge with 604 runs, while Arshdeep and Chahal topped the wicket-taking charts for PBKS, with Arshdeep claiming 21 wickets and Chahal taking 16 wickets last season. Shashank’s remarkable ability to finish games also played a key role in PBKS’s performances last season.
Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, who impressed last season, will continue to play a crucial role for PBKS. Prabhsimran found greater consistency in his top-order batting, while Priyansh, known for his fearless and aggressive approach as an opener, became a fans favourite.
One of the key decisions PBKS may be considering is Glenn Maxwell’s contribution to the team. The Australian all-rounder, apart from a few stellar seasons, has not lived up to his reputation. Similarly, Marcus Stoinis, who was bought for a massive INR 11 crore at the IPL 2025 auction, has failed to deliver on the big investment. PBKS could explore releasing him, only to re-enter the bidding in hopes of securing a better deal. There’s also speculation about the futures of Aaron Hardie and Musheer Khan, with Hardie failing to feature last season and Musheer getting just one game under his belt.
Punjab Kings probable Retained Players squad for IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer, Yash Thakur, Harpreet Brar, Praveen Dubey, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vishnu Vinod, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Kuldeep Sen, Pyla Avinash, Xavier Bartlett, Suryansh Shedge, Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, and Lockie Ferguson.