Last Season’s Performance of Punjab Kings
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) finished as runners-up in the last IPL season, marking their second appearance in the finals, where they suffered a defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). They topped the league stage with a record of nine victories out of 14 matches.
Changes for IPL 2026
Entering IPL 2026, PBKS retained a stable roster, keeping 21 players and letting go of just four, including Australian players Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis. The new additions consist of Cooper Connolly, an aggressive Australian batter with left-arm spin capabilities, and BBL standout Mitchell Owen, who provides explosive hitting, especially in Maxwell’s absence. Additionally, they have bolstered their bowling lineup, bringing in seasoned left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis to cover for Lockie Ferguson, who will be unavailable early in the season. Other bowlers such as Xavier Bartlett and leg-spinner Praveen Dubey have also joined the squad.
Addressing Vulnerabilities
Last season, the middle order was a weak point for PBKS, with the No. 4 batting spot fluctuating until captain Shreyas Iyer finally settled there. Following their final loss, head coach Ricky Ponting highlighted the need for more experience in that segment. With a more robust batting order this year, PBKS aims to rectify this issue and enhance their bowling depth.
Injury Updates
New Zealand’s fast bowler Lockie Ferguson will miss the beginning of the tournament as he is focusing on personal matters. Meanwhile, Connolly is dealing with a suspected stress fracture in his back, which may restrict his bowling capabilities in the tournament.
Projected Best XII
1. Priyansh Arya, 2. Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 3. Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4. Nehal Wadhera, 5. Mitchell Owen/Cooper Connolly, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Shashank Singh, 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Azmatullah Omarzai/Xavier Bartlett, 10. Harpreet Brar, 11. Arshdeep Singh, 12. Yuzvendra Chahal.
Key Players to Watch
The explosive uncapped opening duo of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh excelled for PBKS in 2025, scoring 532 runs in opening partnerships throughout 17 innings. Their ability to secure quick starts has laid crucial groundwork for middle-order batsmen like Iyer and Nehal Wadhera. Additionally, Shashank Singh has shown potential as a finisher, scoring notable runs including 61 against RCB in the finals.
Important Stats
-
PBKS accumulated seven 200-plus totals in ten matches when batting first during IPL 2025, though they also recorded two scores below 120.
-
Shreyas Iyer has not played a T20 match since the IPL 2025 final.
-
Azmatullah Omarzai is among four players with over 750 runs and 50 wickets in men’s T20 since IPL 2025 concluded.
-
PBKS secured only three wins out of ten matches held in New Chandigarh, contrasting with 12 wins in away games across 2024 and 2025.
