Punjab Kings (PBKS) enter the new Indian Premier League (IPL) season with a balanced squad and renewed belief, but concerns over middle-order consistency and recent form could define their title quest.
In a bid for strength, the PBKS team management rebuilt their entire squad in the 2025 IPL mega auction under coach Ricky Ponting. They became stronger when Ponting reunited with Shreyas Iyer to renew their partnership with Delhi Capitals.
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Under their leadership, PBKS finally managed to break their decade-long embarrassment of not being able to make the playoffs and eventually the finals. And after coming within inches of the title last season, there’s still another step left to take that ever-elusive trophy.
Also Read: IPL 2026 Preview: Time for Shubman Gill to step in as Gujarat Titans captain
PBKS have retained most of their 2025 squad and bolstered their squad with four new additions from the mini-auction: all-rounder Cooper Connolly, pacer Ben Dwarshuis and spinners Vishal Nishad and Pravin Dubey.
Strengths of PBKS
Shreyas Iyer has been exceptional for PBKS in IPL 2026. Courtesy: PTI
With a well-rounded squad at his disposal, Shreyas Iyer will be backing himself and his crew to achieve what they fell short of last season. There are very few places in the side that lack proper back-ups to cover absences or loss of form.
Management brought in Connolly and Dwarshuis during a mini-auction late last year. While they may not make the XI, they will act as reliable backups. Apart from Connolly, PBKS have extensive reserves in the rotation in Pravin Dubey and Vishal Nishad.
Weakness of PBKS
An explosive home batting line-up starting with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh rarely looks to their bench for help. With the duo’s runs drying up this home season, PBKS may have to rethink their strategies.
The duo combined to amass 1,024 runs in the IPL last season with individual strikes of over 160. However, after a sub-optimal domestic season, particularly the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, PBKS will need a middle order ready to take the reins when needed.
However, the biggest weakness for PBKS last season was the reliable middle order, and that looks to be a concern this season as well. None of their Indian middle-order batsmen, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh and Suryansh Shedge, looked consistent in the completed domestic season.
Added to that, skipper Shreyas Iyer at number three is likely to be called into action more often than not despite not having played a single T20 game since last year’s IPL final.
Despite the depth of the squad with capable backup players, inconsistency could be something that could trip up last season’s runners-up in their quest to finally break the jinx.
Players to watch
Azmatullah Omarzai is one player to watch out for. Courtesy: PTI
Shreyas Iyer: Last year, the world witnessed a revamped Shreyas Iyer who improved his game against pace with the ability to handle short-pitched deliveries with a different approach, along with his usual dominance of spin.
However, the Mumbai batsman has not played a single T20 match since the last IPL loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season. It will be worth watching as he regains that mindset and leads PBKS in another trophy hunt.
Azmatullah Omarzai: The all-rounder from Afghanistan can prove to be the most important player for PBKS this season. His ability to take wickets at key points is a quality that PBKS would not want to miss out on.
In the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Azmatullah Omarzai took 9 wickets in four matches at a strike rate of 9.22, although Afghanistan were knocked out in the group stage of the tournament. His utility with the bat will likely give him an edge over other options.
Detention of the entire PBKS team
- Shreyas Iyer – 26.75 Cr
- Priyansh Arya – 3.80 Cr
- Prabhsimran Singh – Rs 4.00 cr
- Nehal Wadhera – 4.20 cr
- Marcus Stoinis — 11 cr
- Shashank Singh – 5.5 cr
- Mitchell Owen – 3.00 cr
- Marco Jansen – 7 cr
- Harpreet Brar – 1.5 cr
- Lockie Ferguson – 2 Cr
- Arshdeep Singh – 18 cr
- Yuzvendra Chahal – 18 cr
- Pila Avinash – 30 l
- Harnoor Singh – 30 yrs
- Vishnu Vinod – 95 yrs
- Azmatullah Omarzai – 2.4 cr
- Musheer Khan – 30 yrs
- Suryansh Shedge – 30 l
- Xavier Bartlett – 80 years old
- Vijaykumar Vysakh – 1.8 cr
- Yash Thakur – 1.6 Cr
AUCTION WILL BUY
- Cooper Connolly – 3.00 cr
- Ben Dwarshuis – 4.40 cr
- Pravin Dubey – Rs 30L
- Vishal Nishad – Rs 30L
No injuries
New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson will miss the opening part of the tournament to spend time with his partner and newborn child. His arrival is provisional for now.
Probably XI
Batting first
Playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Impact Player: Vyshak Vijaykumar
Fielding first: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Impact Player: Vishnu Vinod
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
March 26, 2026 6:49 PM IST
