IPL Auction | Well-settled Punjab Kings will have eyes on some missing pieces in pursuit of complete squad

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Punjab Kings find themselves in uncharted territory heading into the IPL 2026 mini-auction, with just INR 11.5 crore in the purse, the second-least among teams. That in itself is a victory for a side that has always looked unsettled, who are now in the driver's seat to build an all-weather team.

‌Finally, the Punjab Kings fans are having a good time after 17 years of convincing themselves that their side is good enough to be in the top tier of the Indian Premier League. Apart from the occasional sparks, like in 2008 and 2014, they have always been on the fringes, be it with the performances on the field or with the auction strategy off it. After a successful season under the new captain-coach combination of Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting, which saw them make the final for the first time since 2014, the team continues to excel tactically. The Kings have one of the most stable units going into the mini-auctions, with a purse of INR 11.5 crore, the second-lowest after the Mumbai Indians. And what do they need to strengthen an already power-packed unit? Let's dive in.

Top-order

1 Priyansh Arya 2 Prabhsimran Singh 3 Shreyas Iyer

Backup(s): Musheer Khan, Vishnu Vinod

PBKS had the best top order trio in the last season, with each of the players scoring more than 450 runs at strike rates in excess of 160. They will have the explosive left-right combo of Priyansh and Prabhsimran at the top, with the skipper jumping back to number three in the absence of Josh Inglis, who was released earlier. But given the pair’s style of play, there is a high possibility for the opening duo to go on a barren run, and that is where the Kings will be left to search in the dark if they opt for a change.

With Inglis’ departure, the PBKS are also in need of a backup wicketkeeper, and they will surely spend a part of their purse on a top-order gloveman. Tim Seifert and Quinton de Kock are some of the attractive prospects, easily fitting into the role of an aggressive top-order batter who can also keep wickets.

Possible Targets: Tim Seifert, Quinton de Kock, Jamie Smith

Middle-order

4 Nehal Wadhera 5 Marcus Stoinis 6 Mitchell Owen 7 Shashank Singh 8 Marco Jansen

Backup(s): Azmatullah Omarzai, Suryansh Shedge

One of the major reasons why the Kings went till the summit clash last year was how their middle order impressively transformed the side into a six-hitting machine in the middle overs. The Punjab-based outfit had the most runs and sixes (1682 and 100 respectively) amongst all the other sides between overs six and 16, courtesy of the lineup packed with brutal hitters.

The Kings have retained their core with the bankable pair of Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh, helping the side bat deep with enormous firepower. Add Marcus Stonis, Mitchell Owen and Marco Jansen to that, and the team turns into a real nightmare for the opponent bowlers.

The Kings may go for someone like David Miller, who provides the additional left-handed option, along with the experience of holding the innings together in the latter half of the game. But given the varying capabilities of Wadhera, Shashank and Stoinis, who can also consolidate the innings if need arises, that signing may not be a top priority for the franchise. And they also have Azmatullah Omarzai and Suryansh Shedge, who can rise to the occasion in case a change is required. There is also a possibility for the Kings to add spin-bowling all-rounders like Matt Short, Sikandar Raza or Liam Livingstone to their roster, but with a thin budget, it will be a tightrope for them to get any of the big names along with filling other slots as well.

Possible Targets: David Miller, Matt Short, Sikandar Raza, Liam Livingstone

Bowling Attack

9 Lockie Ferguson 10 Arshdeep Singh 11 Yuzvendra Chahal 12 Harpreeet Brar

Backup(s): Vijayakumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Xavier Bartlett

One area the Kings are in dire need of additional resources is spin bowling, with Yuzvendra Chahal being their primary option and Harpreet Brar playing a supporting role. The spinners in the side had a total of 31 wickets in IPL 2025 at an economy of 9.30, an overall sixth on both counts. And for the side to continue their title push, it is indispensable to invest in a tweaker who can compete on the same level as Chahal and Brar.

With Chahal at 35 and in the twilight of his career, the Kings will see this as the best opportunity to bolster their spin attack. Moreover, the release of Praveen Dubey also points towards the Kings looking for a medium-term to long-term option in the market. It will not be a surprise if they end up spending the majority of their purse on signing a marquee spinner. If the side is keen on going for an overseas spin bowling all-rounder, then they will have to be content with an Indian spinner who can add depth to the squad such as Tanush Kotian or Manav Suthar instead of a tier-A pick like Ravi Bishnoi.

Possible Targets: Adam Zampa, Allah Ghazanfar, Ravi Bishnoi, Wanindu Hasaranga