Punjab Kings IPL 2026 Squad

About Punjab Kings

Captain	Shreyas Iyer
Coach	Ricky Ponting
Home Ground	Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
IPL Titles	0
Founded	2008 (as Kings XI Punjab; rebranded 2021)
Owners	KPH Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd (Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman, Karan Paul)

Punjab Kings – originally founded as Kings XI Punjab in 2008 – are one of the most intriguing franchises in IPL history.
Owned by a celebrity-studded consortium including actress Preity Zinta, PBKS have never lifted the title despite having some of the most explosive batting line-ups in the competition’s history.
Rebranded in 2021, they also relocated their primary home from Mohali to the newly built Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur in 2024.

The franchise has historically been characterised by batting fireworks – Punjab regularly post massive scores – but have struggled to build consistent bowling attacks and have been plagued by internal instability at ownership and coaching level.

The appointment of Ricky Ponting as coach and Shreyas Iyer as captain represents their most ambitious and focused leadership combination to date.

IPL 2026 Season Preview

Punjab Kings enter 2026 in the most optimistic position they have been in for over a decade.
Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title before being controversially released, arrives with immediate credibility and a clear winning mentality.
Paired with Ricky Ponting – whose coaching record at franchise and international level is exceptional – PBKS finally have a leadership combination that appears equipped to solve their structural problems.

Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal are world-class in their respective disciplines and give Punjab a genuine bowling attack for perhaps the first time.
Lockie Ferguson will miss the first seven games due to personal reasons, which is an early setback, but the batting depth featuring Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Marcus Stoinis, and Marco Jansen is formidable.
Shreyas Iyer has spoken publicly about his determination to win Punjab’s first title – a goal that the fan base has been waiting eighteen years to see fulfilled.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: The best leadership combination Punjab have had in a decade — Shreyas Iyer’s championship blueprint (2024 KKR title) paired with Ricky Ponting’s world-class coaching instinct finally addresses the structural instability that has plagued the franchise. World-class bowling for the first time: Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal are genuine match-winners who give PBKS a bowling attack capable of defending totals on any surface. Priyansh Arya’s fearless power-hitting at the top of the order provides a dimension that makes Punjab one of the most dangerous powerplay teams in the tournament.

Weaknesses: Lockie Ferguson’s absence for the first seven games is a significant early blow to the pace attack. Beyond Arshdeep and Chahal, the bowling lacks proven international depth — on days when those two are not firing, Punjab can be exposed. Eighteen years of expectation and near-misses create psychological weight that even the best leadership group will need to consciously manage throughout the tournament.

Punjab Kings History

Kings XI Punjab were purchased for $76 million in 2008 by a consortium led by Mohit Burman, Ness Wadia, Preity Zinta, and Karan Paul.
Their 2008 season ended in the semi-finals and their 2014 season was spectacular – finishing as runners-up with a line-up featuring Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, and Virender Sehwag.
However, that 2014 campaign represents both their finest hour and the beginning of a long period of frustration: they failed to reach the playoffs in any of the ten seasons between 2015 and 2024.

The intervening years have seen Punjab finish in the bottom half of the table more often than not, despite frequently possessing the highest-scoring batters in the competition.
Orange Cap winners have donned the Punjab jersey – K.L. Rahul won it in 2020 – but team performance has rarely matched individual brilliance.
The 2025 season saw Shreyas Iyer’s PBKS reach the final as runners-up, demonstrating that the foundations for a title challenge are finally in place.

Highs & Lows

Highs: Runner-up in 2014 with one of the most powerful batting line-ups in IPL history. Runner-up in 2025 under Shreyas Iyer. K.L. Rahul’s 670-run Orange Cap season in 2020. Punjab Kings equalling Mumbai Indians’ record of five consecutive victories over CSK in 2024.

Lows: No IPL title in 18 seasons. No playoff appearances between 2015 and 2024. Multiple bottom-half finishes. Internal ownership and coaching instability highlighted by several cricketing analysts.

Key Players to Watch – IPL 2026

• Shreyas Iyer – The captain and the catalyst. Iyer’s leadership transformed KKR in 2024 and he arrives in Punjab with a proven championship blueprint. His middle-order batting – aggressive against spin, composed against pace – and his clear tactical mind make him the most important player in the squad.
• Arshdeep Singh – Punjab’s greatest bowling asset and one of India’s finest T20 seamers. Arshdeep’s left-arm swing in the powerplay and his precise death bowling – particularly his wide yorker – make him a match-winner in every game he plays.
• Yuzvendra Chahal – India’s most experienced legspin bowler. At the Mullanpur ground, where conditions can suit spinners, Chahal’s ability to take wickets in his four overs and hold batters back makes him an invaluable asset. He has taken hat-tricks and match-defining spells throughout his IPL career.
• Priyansh Arya – The breakout star of IPL 2025 – he scored a stunning maiden IPL century as Punjab’s explosive opener. Arya’s fearless hitting and lack of inhibition at the top of the order give Punjab a genuine power-hitting opener that most teams would envy.

Season by Season Record

Season	Matches	Wins	Win %	Finish
2008	14	7	50.0	Semi-final
2009	14	7	50.0	Group Stage
2010	14	6	42.9	Group Stage
2011	14	6	42.9	Group Stage
2012	16	6	37.5	Group Stage
2013	16	7	43.8	Group Stage
2014	16	11	68.8	Runner-up
2015	14	5	35.7	Group Stage
2016	14	7	50.0	Group Stage
2017	14	7	50.0	Group Stage
2018	14	6	42.9	Group Stage
2019	14	6	42.9	Group Stage
2020	14	9	64.3	Group Stage
2021	14	6	42.9	Group Stage
2022	14	7	50.0	Group Stage
2023	14	6	42.9	Group Stage
2024	14	8	57.1	Group Stage
2025	17	10	58.8	Runner-up

Who is the Punjab Kings captain in IPL 2026?

Shreyas Iyer is the captain of Punjab Kings in IPL 2026. Shreyas Iyer was signed for a record-breaking ₹26.75 crore in the mega auction to lead the team. Punjab Kings are yet to win an IPL championship.

What is the Punjab Kings IPL 2026 squad?

Punjab Kings IPL 2026 squad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal. Key overseas players include Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, and Azmatullah Omarzai. Punjab Kings retained 2 players and signed Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore.

How many titles has Punjab Kings won in IPL?

Punjab Kings has won 0 IPL titles: none. They are yet to win an IPL title, but remain one of the most competitive franchises in IPL history.

Which overseas players are in Punjab Kings’s IPL 2026 squad?

Punjab Kings overseas players in IPL 2026: Marcus Stoinis (Australia, All-rounder), Marco Jansen (South Africa, All-rounder), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan, All-rounder), Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand, Bowler), up to 8 overseas players per squad with max 4 in playing XI.