Punjab Kings News

After the much-talked player retention and Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, all ten franchises have finalised their best possible squads for the upcoming season. The much-awaited IPL 2026 will kick off on March 26 and the teams are already plotting how to use their resources in the best possible manner to get the desired results. Not only a strong and balanced playing XI, the use of a perfect Impact Player will be also very crucial for the team's success in the IPL 2026 season. Here is the predicted Playing XI and impact player for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR and others for IPL 2026 season:

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 approaches, all 10 franchises have finalised their coaching set-ups ahead of what promises to be another thrilling T20 spectacle. With mega-auctions, new strategies, and the ever-evolving landscape of T20 cricket, one of the most crucial elements for any team's success is its leadership in the dugout: the head coach.   The much-awaited IPL 2026 will kick off on March 26 and head coaches will be the backbone of team strategy - shaping game plans, managing player workloads, and guiding squads through the ups and downs of the long IPL season. Notably, most head coaches have been retained from previous seasons, with notable changes at Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. Here's the complete and updated list of head coaches for all 10 teams for the upcoming IPL 2026 season:

After their runners-up finish in IPL 2025, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) head into the 2026 season with renewed confidence and a stable core. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the Punjab-based franchise opted for continuity, retaining the bulk of their squad while making targeted acquisitions in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. With key overseas names like Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell no longer with the side, the composition of the four overseas slots at Punjab Kings has shifted ahead of the IPL 2026 season. They bought two overseas players - Cooper Connolly and Ben Dwarshuis during the IPL 2026 auction. Based on the retained core and the interesting auction buys, here are the four overseas players who are likely to start in PBKS' playing XI in the IPL 2026:

India's preparations for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 have hit a snag with Tilak Varma's recent abdominal injury issue. Tilak, a key left-handed middle-order batter in T20I setup and the hero of India's Asia Cup victory in Dubai last year, underwent a surgery for Testicular Torsion in Rajkot on Wednesday, January 7. This has ruled him out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand, with his availability for the remaining matches and potentially the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, starting February 7, in doubt due to a 3-4 week recovery period.  Notably, Tilak, a key middle-order anchor in Suryakumar Yadav's squad, has been a consistent performer with his ability to stabilize innings and accelerate against spin. With Tilak sidelined, selectors face a dilemma in the middle order, where balance, left-right combinations, and finishing power are crucial. Here's a look at the top potential replacements of injured Tilak Varma In India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad:

After the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16, all ten franchises have finalised their best possible squads for the upcoming season. The much-awaited IPL 2026 will kick off on March 26 and the teams are already plotting how to use their resources in the best possible manner to get the desired results. Interestingly, despite the recent IPL 2026 auction, wicket-keeper roles are relatively stable across franchises, with most of them likely continuing from IPL 2025 unless impacted by new signings, availability issues or injuries. Here's the predicted first-choice wicket-keeper for every franchise for IPL 2026 season:

After the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, all ten franchises have finalised their best possible squads for the upcoming season. The much-awaited IPL 2026 will kick off on March 26 and the teams are already plotting how to use their "12th Man" - the Impact Player in the best possible manner to get the desired results.  Entering its fourth season, the Impact Player rule has evolved from a novelty to a critical tactical weapon and teams are moving away from "bits-and-pieces" substitutions to "Specialist Impact Players". Here are the best Impact Player options for RCB, CSK, MI, KKR and other teams for IPL 2026 season:  

After the much-talked player retention and recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, all ten franchises have finalised their best possible squads for the upcoming season. The much-awaited IPL 2026 will kick off on March 26 and the teams are already plotting how to use their resources in the best possible manner to get the desired results.   Here is the predicted Playing XII of CSK, MI, RCB, KKR and others for IPL 2026 season:

After their historic runners-up finish in IPL 2025, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) head into the 2026 season with renewed confidence and a stable core. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the Punjab-based franchise opted for continuity, retaining the bulk of their squad while making targeted acquisitions in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. With key overseas names like Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell no longer with the side, the composition of the four overseas slots at Punjab Kings has shifted ahead of the IPL 2026 season. They bought two overseas players - Cooper Connolly and Ben Dwarshuis during the IPL 2026 auction. Based on retention strategies, auction buys and team balance, here are the four overseas players who are likely to start for PBKS in IPL 2026:

After the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, all ten franchises have finalised their best possible squads for the upcoming season. The much-awaited IPL 2026 will kick off on March 26 and the teams are already plotting how to use their resources in the best possible manner to get the desired results.  Interestingly, despite the recent IPL 2026 auction, wicket-keeper roles are relatively stable across franchises, with most of them likely continuing from IPL 2025 unless impacted by new signings, availability issues or injuries. Here's the predicted first-choice wicket-keeper for every franchise for IPL 2026 season:

After the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, all ten franchises have finalised their best possible squads for the upcoming season. The much-awaited IPL 2026 will kick off on March 26 and the teams are already plotting how to use their "12th Man" - the Impact Player in the best possible manner to get the desired results. Entering its fourth season, the Impact Player rule has evolved from a novelty to a critical tactical weapon and teams are moving away from "bits-and-pieces" substitutions to "Specialist Impact Players". Here are the best Impact Player options for RCB, CSK, MI, KKR and other teams for IPL 2026 season:

Identical player names caused a rare pause during the IPL auction accelerated round. Punjab Kings briefly questioned their bid before confirming Shashank Singh was their target. The all-rounder later emerged as a reliable super finisher for PBKS.

The stage is set for the much-anticipated IPL 2026 mini-auction, set to be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Unlike a mega-auction, this one-day mini IPL auction focuses on filling gaps rather than full rebuilds, with teams aiming to bolster their cores for the upcoming 19th edition of the cash-rich league.   With big names like Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone, Ravi Bishnoi, and Venkatesh Iyer going under the hammer, and with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) holding the largest purse, expect fireworks and record-breaking bids during the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Here's a breakdown of what each of the 10 teams desperately needs heading into the IPL 2026 auction and upcoming season:

The IPL 2026 mini-auction, set for December 16, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, features a pool of 359 shortlisted players (245 Indian, 114 overseas), with 77 slots available across the 10 franchises, including 31 for overseas players. This one-day event focuses on targeted upgrades rather than overhauls, with teams entering with varying purses (e.g., KKR at Rs 64.3 crore for a potential rebuild, MI at just Rs 2.75 crore for selective tweaks). With limited spots available and a handful of genuine match-winners on the table, several high-profile players like Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone, Venkatesh Prasad and others are expected to see their value soar, potentially breaking the bank for the teams that manage to secure them. Here are the big names who are likely to be the key targets of teams at the IPL 2026 auction:

As franchises gear up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, the focus is not just on the players going under the hammer, but also on the head coaches, whose philosophies will directly influence retention strategies, trade decisions, and the all-important auction bids. These coaches hold the key to the IPL franchises' fortunes, tasked with molding a championship-winning squad from a fresh pool of talent. While some teams have retained their trusted coaches, few franchises have turned to fresh faces to revitalize their fortunes for the IPL 2026 season. Here's a list of head coaches of RCB, CSK, MI, KKR and others for IPL 2026 season:

Punjab Kings (PBKS) have emerged as the most-searched IPL team worldwide on Google for 2025, based on the latest Google Year in Search data released on December 5.  

As franchises gear up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, the focus is not just on the players going under the hammer, but also on the head coaches, whose philosophies will directly influence retention strategies, trade decisions, and the all-important auction bids. These coaches hold the key to the IPL franchises' fortunes, tasked with molding a championship-winning squad from a fresh pool of talent. While some teams have retained their trusted coaches, few franchises have turned to fresh faces to revitalize their fortunes for the IPL 2026 season. Here's a list of head coaches of RCB, CSK, MI, KKR and others for IPL 2026 season:

Punjab Kings have submitted their official list with their retained and released players list ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction. Check the complete player list along with their price.   

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) retention deadline approaches on November 15, 2025, franchises are finalizing their squads for the mini-auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. With no restrictions on retention (up to 25 players per team), most teams are opting for minor tweaks rather than overhauls. However, underperforming stars, injury-hit players, and high-salary mismatches are set to hit the auction block, freeing up purses for targeted buys like star all-rounders Cameron Green and others. Here's list of top 10 high-profile players who are likely to be released before IPL 2026 auction:

As franchises gear up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, the focus is not just on the players going under the hammer, but also on the head coaches, whose philosophies will directly influence retention strategies, trade decisions, and the all-important auction bids. These coaches hold the key to the IPL franchises' fortunes, tasked with molding a championship-winning squad from a fresh pool of talent. While some teams have retained their trusted coaches, few franchises have turned to fresh faces to revitalize their fortunes for the IPL 2026 season. Here's a list of head coaches of RCB, CSK, MI, KKR and others for IPL 2026 season:

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season saw several teams bring replacement players due to injuries and other reasons. Several replacement players including Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Mayank Agarwal and others impressed with impactful contributions during the IPL 2025 season. Based on their performances and team needs, several 2025 replacement players stand out as strong retention candidates and they are likely to be retained by their respective franchises before the IPL 2026 auction. Here's list of replacement players from CSK, RCB, MI and others who are likely to be retained before the IPL 2026 auction: