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:Â 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
