Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Runners up from 2025, Punjab Kings have one of the most settled squads ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. After reaching the final of the last season, they did one of the most basic yet crucial things right by retaining most of their core players .Out of the five players they released, one was Josh Inglis, with the Australian wicketkeeper declaring that he won’t be available to play most of the season. PBKS will go to the event with the second-lowest budget of Rs. 11.5 Crore and can only sign four players in the auction. Two of them could be overseas stars.
1.Jonny Bairstow
With the release of Josh Inglis, PBKS will be eyeing a like to like replacement. So they need keepers capable of batting in the middle-order, as Prabhsimran and Priyansh Arya are settled as an opening combination. In this scenario, Jonny Bairstow could fall sweetly into their budget as he’s someone who has played and done well (501 runs, including a century) for the franchise in the past and wouldn’t mind being a rotating option either. He has shown some good form recently and will be one of the potential picks for PBKS side.
2.Micheal Bracewell
Michael Bracewell can be a useful addition to the Punjab Kings’ setup. They have released Glenn Maxwell from last season and Bracewell can fill into that role. He might not be as dangerous a batter as Maxwell, but he can still score at a good rate. The New Zealand all-rounder can also chip in with overs inside the powerplay and also through the middle overs.
He played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2023. The 34-year-old recently led the Kiwis in the three-match T20I series against Australia at home. Bracewell could play an important role for Punjab Kings in the role of a finisher.
3. Matthew Short
Short has previously played for the Punjab Kings during the IPL 2023 season as a replacement for the injured Jonny Bairstow. He played six matches but failed to make much of an impact. Last year, the right-handed batter went unsold in the IPL mega-auction. Short has done well in franchise leagues around the world. He has also been a regular feature in Australia’s T20I squad over the last year. The 29-year-old can bat at the top of the order and also slot into the finisher’s role. His versatility will come in handy for Punjab. He has also played for the franchise in the past, and that could help him settle down quickly. Ponting who is the head coach of PBKS will know the value Matt Short can bring to the side.
