Punjab Kings (PBKS) enter the Indian Premier League 2026 season with a clear objective, to finish the job they started last year. Ricky Ponting's appointment as Head Coach and the successful acquisition of Shreyas Iyer for Rs 26.75 crore in the December 2024 auction transformed the mid-table regulars into serious title contenders, as they fell just six runs short of their maiden title last season.
This season, PBKS return with a settled core and renewed clarity as they look to bridge that minuscule gap at the top.
The franchise had no need for a major overhaul in the last auction, as they sensibly retained the bulk of the squad that powered last year's run. The return of left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis for Rs 4.40 crore gives PBKS added depth in the pace department while young Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly was picked up for Rs 3 crore to provide a long-term, multi-dimensional option.
The core of the squad is anchored by last season's key performers: Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya at the top, Iyer's stability in the middle, and a bowling unit led by Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Ferguson is set to miss the opening phase of the season due to paternity leave, so one of either Xavier Bartlett or Ben Dwarshuis is expected to step in as the primary overseas pacer. Beyond that, PBKS have a fully fit Indian core, with Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal all available and offering rare stability compared to other squads dealing with injury concerns.
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PBKS Players List IPL 2026
Batters: Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Harnoor Singh, Pyla Avinash.
Wicketkeepers: Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod.
All-rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Musheer Khan, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge.
Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Xavier Bartlett, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Ben Dwarshuis, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Pravin Dubey, Vishal Nishad.
Punjab Kings: IPL Schedule 2026
The BCCI has released the schedule in phases. Here are the confirmed fixtures for PBKS in the opening phase:
- 1) March 31 - vs Gujarat Titans - Chandigarh (H) - 7:30 PM
- 2) April 2 - vs Chennai Super Kings - Chennai (A) - 7:30 PM
- 3) April 6 - vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Kolkata (A) - 7:30 PM
- 4) April 9 - vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Chandigarh (H) - 7:30 PM
Punjab Kings Strongest Playing XI
Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Impact Sub: Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur
Who is the Captain of Punjab Kings for IPL 2026?
Shreyas Iyer will lead Punjab Kings in IPL 2026. He continues in the role after guiding the franchise to the IPL final in 2025, where they finished runners-up.
Who is the Head Coach of Punjab Kings?
Ricky Ponting serves as the Head Coach of Punjab Kings, overseeing the team's strategic direction and playing style.
Who is the Assistant Coach of Punjab Kings?
Brad Haddin is part of the PBKS coaching setup as Assistant Coach, contributing particularly to wicketkeeping and batting inputs.
Who is the Bowling Coach of Punjab Kings?
James Hopes is the Bowling Coach for Punjab Kings, working closely with both the pace and all-round bowling unit. For the IPL 2026 season, PBKS have appointed former Indian cricketer Sairaj Bahutule as their spin bowling coach.
Who is the Fielding Coach of Punjab Kings?
Trevor Gonsalves serves as the Fielding Coach for Punjab Kings.
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