Punjab Kings (PBKS) have adopted a strategy of remarkable continuity for IPL 2026, retaining 20 players from their 2025 runners-up squad that topped the league stage before falling to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a thrilling final at Narendra Modi Stadium. Under captain Shreyas Iyer, acquired for a franchise-record INR 26.75 crore in the 2025 mega-auction, PBKS prioritised loyalty to their uncapped Indian core and high-impact overseas talents, avoiding trades entirely in a non-mega auction year that allows unlimited retentions within the INR 120 crore purse.
The only notable departures are Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell—released after a mid-season injury and underwhelming returns of 189 runs and 6 wickets in 10 matches—and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, who head coach Ricky Ponting confirmed will be unavailable for most of 2026 due to international commitments. This measured approach leaves PBKS with a modest INR 11.50 crore purse, the second-lowest among franchises, signalling confidence in a roster that nearly ended their title drought.
The retained lineup showcases PBKS’s faith in youth and balance, anchoring around Iyer’s tactical leadership and a dynamic Indian middle order featuring Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Shashank Singh—all instrumental in 2025 with explosive cameos and record chases, including a 200+ run stand in Qualifier 1. Uncapped prospects like Pyla Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Musheer Khan, and Vishnu Vinod add depth, while all-round utility comes from Marcus Stoinis (retained despite an INR 11 crore tag), Azmatullah Omarzai, Suryansh Shedge, and Mitchell Owen, who replaced Maxwell mid-2025 with 3/20 on debut.
The bowling attack remains formidable, with pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh (INR 18 crore, 19 wickets in 2025) leading a unit including Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Xavier Bartlett, and Lockie Ferguson, complemented by spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal (INR 18 crore, Purple Cap contender) and Harpreet Brar—ensuring versatility across IS Bindra Stadium’s pace-friendly tracks.
Releases were surgical: Maxwell’s INR 10.75 crore exit recouped funds after a season marred by form and fitness, while Inglis (INR 4 crore) and backups Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, and Praveen Dubey were let go to preserve overseas slots and streamline the squad. Ponting praised the decision as "backing proven winners," noting the uncapped brigade’s 2025 heroics—Priyansh’s 145-metre six and Shashank’s unbeaten 78 in the semi-final—as evidence of a sustainable model. Unlike purse-heavy teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (INR 64.3 crore post-Russell release), PBKS’s lean budget limits mega-signings at the December 16 Abu Dhabi mini-auction but allows targeted picks for a backup keeper or death bowler to plug minor gaps in a near-title-ready unit.
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Entering a 74-match IPL 2026 with momentum from 11 league wins in 2025, PBKS aim to convert consistency into silverware, leveraging Iyer’s calm demeanour and a bowling attack that conceded under 8 runs per over at home. This retention strategy—retaining 80% of the core—positions them as dark horses in a landscape shaken by trades like Jadeja-Samson, ready to challenge defending champions RCB and big-spenders CSK with a battle-hardened, cohesive squad hungry for that elusive maiden crown.
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