Punjab Kings enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in their 2025 IPL campaign, finishing atop the points table with 19 points from 14 matches and reaching their second-ever final. Although they fell short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash, the season marked a significant improvement after years of inconsistent performances. Under Shreyas Iyer's leadership in his debut season as captain, the squad showcased depth and multiple contributors across departments. Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, the franchise has finalized its retention strategy, keeping 20 players from the previous campaign. The management decided against any trading activity before the deadline but may explore options before the upcoming mini auction. With a remaining purse of INR 11.5 crore, Punjab Kings have retained their core while releasing four players, including prominent all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.
Retained and Released Players for IPL 2026
Punjab Kings retained 20 players for the upcoming season, with captain Shreyas Iyer commanding the highest retention price of INR 26.75 crore. Key retentions include bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal (both at INR 18 crore), all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (INR 11 crore), and batters Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, and wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh. Emerging talents like Priyansh Arya, Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, and pacers Lockie Ferguson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Xavier Bartlett also remain with the squad. The franchise released four players: Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, and Kuldeep Sen. With INR 11.5 crore remaining in their purse, Punjab Kings will enter the mini auction looking to fill specific gaps.
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