For a team with a habit of transitions, 2025 was a season of new constants for Punjab Kings (PBKS). Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy and constant faith shown to the same group of players and young talents resulted in their third playoff appearance in 18 years. Much of the credit for this goes to Iyer and Ricky Ponting.
The two-time World Cup-winning captain was able to replicate his success at Delhi. For the 2026 IPL season, Punjab are well-placed to replicate their form, with most of their new finds flourishing in the international scene. The likes of Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh are now sitting at the top of the world and would hope to lead Punjab to glory.
PBKS Auction and Squad
A big positive for Punjab has been the maintenance of its core from last season. The franchise released Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, and Josh Inglis from its foreign contingent, with only Inglis a regular starter. Praveen Dubey has been brought back in the auction, while Kuldeep Sen has been replaced by Vishal Nishad.
They have also bought the Aussie duo of Cooper Connolly and Ben Dwarshius. While Dwarshius would be a solid backup for Jansen and Ferguson, Connolly could be a solid long-term prospect for Ponting to develop.
In a season already plagued by many injuries, the Punjab Kings have been rather fortunate not to experience any. Their only temporary loss would be that of Lockie Ferguson, who will be on paternity leave for the first few matches. Xavier Bartlett is slightly on the expensive side with the ball, but he can provide similar attributes to Ferguson.
Ponting and Iyer are likely to focus on giving more game time to backup talents like Musheer, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Yash Thakur whenever possible. They will also expect to maintain the clarity in roles from last season.
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Key Strengths
PBKS’s biggest strength lies in the flexibility of its lineup. Their middle order is particularly stocked with versatile all-rounders for a match-winning pedigree. Marco Jansen and Stoinis are sureshot starters and will carry the team. Connolly, Omarzai, Mitch Owen, and Ben Dwarshius each offer distinct skill sets and are internationally proven.
The side can bat till number 9 regularly, and have 6-7 bowling options in most matches. This allows more aggressive players, such as Arya and Prabhsimran, to flourish without fear. Their bowling core of Jansen, Arshdeep, and Chahal is also more aggressive when well supported by good holding bowlers like Brar or Omarzai.
The T20 World Cup has also happened at the best possible timing for Punjab. Arshdeep Singh, Jansen, and Omarzai excelled in the tournament. Arshdeep was very reliable with the old ball. Ferguson’s return during the season would make this bowling attack very deadly in bouncy tracks, which Mullanpur is likely to offer.
PBKS Shouble Be Wary of Second-Season Blues
There are very few gaps in this Punjab side, but the team will be wary of second-season blues. They are a franchise with a habit of dropping consistency. Teams will prepare better for Priyansh Arya, something he will have to learn to handle.
They will also have to be wary of their pace backups in case of fatigue and injury. Both Jansen and Arshdeep come at the back of a long World Cup and limited-overs season. Punjab should definitely try other domestic pacers like Thakur and Vysakh whenever they get the chance.
A Well-Drilled Line-up
Punjab’s batting core is filled with domestic talent and immense depth. It will be led by Shreyas Iyer at his trusted No. 3 slot. The openers, Prabhsimran and Priyansh, provided the side with many explosive starts last season and were crucial in their reaching the finals.
Prabhsimran is now an IPL veteran, having played for the Kings since 2019. Priyansh had a breakthrough in 2025, which saw him leap into contention for India A. He is yet another brand of the Abhishek Sharma-type fearless young opener. While Nehal Wadhera hasn’t had the best season domestically, he will add a good left-handed variation in a right-handed-heavy lineup. Musheer Khan and Harnoor Singh would be eagerly competing for that no.4 slot, in case of a slip-up.
PBKS’ Domestic Talent
The domestic talent up top ensures Punjab goes all in on quality foreign all-rounders and pacers. Marcus Stoinis, batting at number 5, has given memorable batting performances over the years. This is also his perfect batting slot, giving him enough time to settle in and play long.
Shashank Singh is now consistently trusted with providing quick-fire finishes and should fit perfectly at 6. Azmatullah Omarzai was the rare bright spot in Afghanistan’s poor T20 World Cup campaign. He has also improved his T20 game brilliantly. He offers both a finishing option with the bat and can bowl at the top and death.
The Bowling Unit That Bats
Equally important as the top order batting are Punjab’s two left-arm seamers. Marco Jansen has the claim to be one of the best all-format players in the world. He has developed the ability to use his height and cutters to take consistent wickets. He is also a sweet timer of the ball, a luxury to have at number 8.
Arshdeep Singh is a reliable death bowler and can fill essential gaps in the team. Yuzvendra Chahal might be nearing his IPL swansong, but he can very much function in tandem with an economical Harpreet Brar. With the option of bowling with Stoinis and Wadhera and batting till Jansen and Brar, Punjab can field a very flexible lineup across most conditions.
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PBKS Batting First Lineup
Priyansh/ Prabhsimran(wk)/ Shreyas(c)/ Wadhera/ Stoinis/ Shashank/ Omarzai/ Jansen/ Arshdeep/ Chahal/ Ferguson/ Brar
Due to Lockie Ferguson’s paternity leave, Xavier Bartlett could most likely slot in for the first few games.
Players to Look out For in PBKS
Shreyas Iyer has already built a legacy with PBKS in his inaugural season here. He led them to their first finals in 11 years and spearheads the domestic batting core, as KL Rahul once did. He is also currently rated as one of the best captains in the league. Iyer will have an eye on entering the Indian T20 side, especially with his coveted spin-hitting skills. He would hope to replicate his maturity from last season with the bat and as a skipper for the relatively young side.
Marco Jansen has developed well as both a batter and a T20 bowler. While very capable in the longer formats, he has recently added great variations and a heavy ball to his arsenal. These new skills were on display against India in the T20 World Cup. Jansen has also improved his six-hitting ability. Already a natural strokemaker, his long levers would be a luxury at number 8. Ponting and Co would definitely look to shoulder him with more responsibility in both departments.
Shashank Singh is an integral piece in the Punjab batting lineup. He acts as a bridge between the top 5 and the finishers, and often has to play in multiple gears in a single innings. His impact has also been massive for Punjab. In the last two seasons, he has had one of the best strike rates in the league in the death overs. His domestic experience has also made him a core player in the PBKS setup rather quickly.
Realistic Expectations For PBKS in 2026
Punjab Kings would be in many people’s top 4 for this season, and rightfully so. They have successfully maintained their talented core from last season. They play a flexible brand of cricket and have a young team with many international, in-form superstars. The role of captaincy in IPL cannot be understated, and Iyer is arguably the best in the league. Punjab has also finally understood the unique bowling-friendly conditions of Mullanpur. The new PBKS feels like a prepared and assured team, and I see them as a frontrunner to the playoffs.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Which seasons has PBKS reached the IPL finals in?
- PBKS has played in the IPL finals twice: in 2014 against KKR and in 2025 against RCB. They lost on both occassions.
- Who was the first PBKS player to win the IPL orange cap?
- The first orange cap winner of the IPL was Shaun Marsh of Australia, who scored 616 runs off 11 innings for Kings XI Punjab.
- When did PBKS officially change its name?
- PBKS switched from Kings XI Punjab to its current name, Punjab Kings, right before the 2021 IPL season.
- Who is the current PBKS player with the most matches for the franchise?
- The current PBKS player with the most matches for them is Arshdeep Singh, with 82 matches so far.
- Who has had the highest batting score for Punjab in its history?
- KL Rahul has had the highest score in a single innings for Punjab, scoring an unbeaten 132 against RCB in 2020.
