Punjab Kings Retained and Released Players: PBKS IPL 2026 Retention List

As the 2026 Indian Premier League draws closer, Punjab Kings will look to bounce back from the heartbreak of the previous season and launch a renewed campaign for their maiden IPL trophy. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, PBKS came agonisingly close in IPL 2025, falling just six runs short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a thrilling final.

Shreyas Iyer (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

As the 2026 Indian Premier League draws closer, Punjab Kings will look to bounce back from the heartbreak of the previous season and launch a renewed campaign for their maiden IPL trophy. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, PBKS came agonisingly close in IPL 2025, falling just six runs short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a thrilling final. Despite the defeat, Punjab’s performance throughout the season reflected significant improvement and marked one of their strongest campaigns in recent years.

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In IPL 2025, Punjab Kings finished at the top of the points table, showcasing remarkable consistency. They won 10 of their 17 matches, with six losses and one no-result, registering an impressive win percentage of 63.64%. Their journey to the final included a confident victory over Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2, reinforcing their status as one of the most balanced and competitive sides of the season.

IPL 2026 retained players: Who stayed where and for how much

The 2025 squad featured a strong mix of experienced international stars and promising young Indian talent. Led by Shreyas Iyer, the squad included dynamic players like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis and Marco Jansen, while homegrown talents such as Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera played pivotal roles. Rising names like Xavier Bartlett, Priyansh Arya, Musheer Khan and Suryansh Shedge added depth and energy to the lineup. This combination of youth and experience was one of the biggest strengths of PBKS in 2025. The franchise’s historical performance in the IPL highlights its inconsistent yet occasionally brilliant journey. As Kings XI Punjab, the team enjoyed strong seasons in 2008 and 2014, finishing as semi-finalists and runners-up respectively. However, they also endured several years at the bottom of the table. After rebranding to Punjab Kings in 2021, the team’s fortunes fluctuated but eventually surged in 2025 when they topped the league standings and finished as runners-up—signalling a resurgence under new leadership. The table of past seasons clearly reflects the team’s evolution: a mix of mid-table finishes, a few disappointing campaigns, and standout years where they looked like title contenders. The dramatic turnaround in 2025 stands out as their best finish since the famous 2014 season.

Full List of Players Retained by PBKS for IPL 2026

Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Pyla Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Musheer Khan, Vishnu Vinod, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar

Players Released by PBKS Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction

Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Praveen DubeyAUCTION BUDGET: Rs 11.50 crore

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