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Punjab Kings made calculated moves at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, spending ₹121.50 crore to complete a 25-player squad while leaving ₹3.50 crore unspent. After reaching the IPL 2025 final, PBKS retained a strong 21-player core led by captain Shreyas Iyer, focusing on stability rather than a full rebuild. The auction added key reinforcements like Australian all-rounders to address gaps left by releases such as Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis.
Punjab Kings retention strategy and auction tactics in IPL 2026 Auction
PBKS entered the auction with just ₹11.50 crore and four slots to fill, prioritizing value buys over splashy spending. Head coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer emphasized continuity around their IPL 2025 runners-up core, retaining pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal at ₹18 crore each to anchor the bowling. They targeted versatile overseas all-rounders to replace Maxwell’s firepower, securing Cooper Connolly as a like-for-like option after his explosive Big Bash League form, including a 59 off 31 balls in the opener. Ben Dwarshuis added left-arm pace depth, while domestic picks like Praveen Dubey and Vishal Nishad provided economical squad balance at ₹30 lakh each. This approach reflects Ponting’s preference for balanced units capable of adapting to varied conditions, blending experience with youth like Priyansh Arya and Nehal Wadhera.
The franchise avoided overbidding frenzy, focusing on players fitting their middle-order aggression and death-over needs. Releases of underperformers like Maxwell freed overseas slots without disrupting the spine of Iyer, Arshdeep, and Marcus Stoinis. Iyer’s presence at the auction table ensured captain-led decisions, underscoring PBKS’s trust in his IPL-winning pedigree from Kolkata Knight Riders. With eight overseas players maxed out, the squad now boasts flexibility for impact subs, positioning PBKS as title contenders in IPL 2026.
Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Complete list of sold players with their price
Salaries of PBKS Players in IPL 2026
Punjab Kings finalized their 25-player squad at the IPL 2026 auction, spending ₹121.50 crore while leaving ₹3.50 crore unspent.
| S.No. | Player | Sold Price (₹) |
| 1 | Shreyas Iyer | 26 crores 75 lakh |
| 2 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 18 crores |
| 3 | Arshdeep Singh | 18 crores |
| 4 | Marcus Stoinis | 11 crores |
| 5 | Marco Jansen | 7 crores |
| 6 | Shashank Singh | 5 crores 50 lakh |
| 7 | Ben Dwarshuis | 4 crores 40 lakh |
| 8 | Nehal Wadhera | 4 crores 20 lakh |
| 9 | Prabhsimran Singh | 4 crores |
| 10 | Priyansh Arya | 3 crores 80 lakh |
| 11 | Mitchell Owen | 3 crores |
| 12 | Cooper Connolly | 3 crores |
| 13 | Azmatullah Omarzai | 2 crores 40 lakh |
| 14 | Lockie Ferguson | 2 crores |
| 15 | Vijaykumar Vyshak | 1 crores 80 lakh |
| 16 | Yash Thakur | 1 crores 60 lakh |
| 17 | Harpreet Brar | 1 crores 50 lakh |
| 18 | Vishnu Vinod | 95 lakh |
| 19 | Xavier Bartlett | 80 lakh |
| 20 | Praveen Dubey | 30 lakh |
| 21 | Vishal Nishad | 30 lakh |
| 22 | Suryansh Shedge | 30 lakh |
| 23 | Pyla Avinash | 30 lakh |
| 24 | Musheer Khan | 30 lakh |
| 25 | Harnoor Singh | 30 lakh |
Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Full list of unsold players along with their base price
