IPL 2026 Auction: Punjab Kings Release 11 Players, Free Up ₹12.8 Crore – Aiming for a Strong Comeback

The IPL mini auction for 2026 is just around the corner, and all the focus is on Punjab Kings (PBKS), the team that almost got to the top last time around and ended up as the IPL 2025 runners-up. The retention deadline is coming up in mid-November, and PBKS is apparently all set to make big and strategic moves in order to bolster their roster and to conquer the IPL title, which will be their first one.

Punjab Kings will let go of 11 players ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

There are rumors that the team is going to let go of 11 players, thus making ₹12.8 crore available for the auction upfront.

Among the players in question are noted:

Glenn Maxwell, Vishnu Vinod, Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Suryansh Hedge, Yash Thakur, Pravin Dubey, Kuldeep Sen, and Lockie Ferguson.

This move communicates that the team is leaning towards the young, more vibrant, and dynamic group, thus, releasing players who are injury-prone or have been inconsistent. Also, letting such high-salaried players go like Maxwell (₹4.2 crore) and Ferguson (₹2 crore) will give the team more options when it comes to new signings.

Expected PBKS Retained Core for IPL 2026

Despite the releases, PBKS still have one of the most balanced squads in the tournament. Under captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the team found rhythm in IPL 2025, driven by strong individual performances and improved team cohesion.

Expected Retained Players:

Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Harpreet Brar, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, and Azmatullah Omarzai.

The opening pair of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh offered stability and attacking intent, while Josh Inglis and Shreyas Iyer anchored the middle order with composure. With Marcus Stoinis and Azmatullah Omarzai providing all-round depth, PBKS now boast one of the strongest top and middle orders in the league.

PBKS Bowling Unit: Room for Improvement

The spin department looks solid with Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar. Chahal’s memorable hat-trick in IPL 2025 underlined his match-winning ability, but his injury late in the season highlighted the need for another dependable spinner — something the management may target in the mini auction.

In the pace attack, Arshdeep Singh remains the leader, but the absence of a consistent partner after Lockie Ferguson’s injury was evident. Expect Punjab to pursue a world-class overseas pacer who can deliver in both the powerplay and death overs.

PBKS Mini Auction Strategy for IPL 2026

With ₹12.8 crore available, PBKS are expected to:

• Strengthen the pace attack with a proven overseas fast bowler.
• Add a backup spinner to support Chahal and Brar.
• Focus on fit, in-form all-rounders who can contribute in multiple roles.
• Invest in young domestic batters to bolster squad depth.

The management’s focus will be on stability and sustained performance — a formula that helped them reach the finals in IPL 2025.

Conclusion: PBKS Ready for a Title Push

Punjab Kings’ approach to IPL 2026 looks measured yet ambitious. By releasing high-cost underperformers and retaining a strong, balanced core led by Shreyas Iyer, they’ve positioned themselves well for the upcoming mini auction.

With a mix of youth, experience, and flexibility in their purse, PBKS are poised to fine-tune their lineup and potentially go one step further — from runners-up to champions in IPL 2026.