IPL 2026: Full squad of PBKS after mini-auction ft. Shreyas Iyer, Cooper Connolly

Punjab Kings (PBKS) entered the IPL 2026 auction with a purse value of 11.50 crore.

After a wait of 11 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Punjab Kings were able to make it to the playoffs in 2025. Captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting led the team to the final, but were unlucky to finish on the wrong side in the final. The franchise will be keen to complete the unfinished business in the IPL 2026.

PBKS showed the faith in all the players who did well for them, and their retained list featured their core group. Retaining 21 players meant that they had a very low purse. But despite having the second-lowest purse value of INR 11.50 crore, PBKS ended the IPL 2026 auction with some useful players.

PBKS were keen to add some good all-rounders and strengthen their middle order. With Glenn Maxwell not available, the franchise replaced him with another Australian all-rounder, Cooper Connolly.

IPL 2026 auction: Retained players for Punjab Kings (PBKS)

PBKS released only five players, and these players were those who didn’t play or have a good last season. The list of released players had the Australian trio of Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, and Josh Inglis and the Indian uncapped duo of Kuldeep Sen and Pravin Dubey. Shreyas Iyer will be leading PBKS in the 19th edition, and it is likely to be the same team or playing XI with minimal changes. Here is the list of retained players for PBKS ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Prabhsimran Singh. Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson. Harnoor Pannu, Priyansh Arya, Xavier Bartlett, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Pyla Avinash

Cooper Connolly and Ben Dwarshuis are set to make their IPL debut with PBKS

PBKS were keen to add some firepower with the ball in hand. That is where they were keen to wait and raise the paddle at the right time. With Ricky Ponting in the camp, it was expected that the franchise would be keen to have Australian players.

PBKS went hard to get the Australian duo of Ben Dwarshuis and Cooper Connolly and signed them for a price of INR 4.40 and 3 crores, respectively. These two are seasoned T20 players and have experience of playing in different leagues across the globe. Both all-rounders are set to make their debut in the IPL.

Vishal Nishad and Praveen Dubey were the two other uncapped signings for the PBKS at the IPL 2026 auction. Punjab Kings have completed 25 slots, including 8 overseas. Five of those 8 overseas players are Australians. Eventually, PBKS were left with a purse value of INR 3.5 crore.

IPL 2026: Punjab Kings (PBKS) squad after mini-auction

Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Priyansh Arya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prabhsimran Singh. Nehal Wadhera, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson. Harnoor Pannu, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Xavier Bartlett, Musheer Khan, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Suryansh Shedge, Pyla Avinash, Ben Dwarshuis (4.40 cr), Cooper Connolly (3 cr), Praveen Dubey (30 Lacs) and Vishal Nishad (30 lacs)

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