Punjab Kings were runners-up last season, producing brilliant displays with the bat and composed execution with the ball, led by Arshdeep Singh — who finished the campaign with 21 wickets, including three in the final — and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Under Shreyas Iyer, they are beginning IPL 2026 with the same goal: reaching the final once again and aiming to win their maiden title. Iyer’s experience, including his role in helping KKR secure an IPL title, adds leadership and tactical depth to the squad. Punjab will start their campaign at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh against the Gujarat Titans on March 31.
Punjab Kings Squad: Shreyas Iyer (C), Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Shashank Singh, Pyla Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Musheer Khan, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Arshdeep Singh, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Vishal Nishad, Praveen Dubey
Probable Playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (C), Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vyshak Vijaykumar Impact Player: Harpreet Brar / Yash Thakur
Injury Update: Lockie Ferguson will miss approximately the first seven matches of the season to spend time with his newborn son. No replacement is planned for his absence, with Ben Dwarshuis and Xavier Bartlett expected to cover the pace-bowling workload in the early phase. Ferguson himself confirmed he will join the squad once the tournament is underway.
Punjab Kings have retained their core team from last year and will rely on their young Indian talents to deliver consistent performances. The fearless approach from openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, supported by the middle-order solidity of Iyer and Nehal Wadhera, will be crucial in setting the tone for the season. Developing reliable backups and flexible rotation options will be key in navigating the long tournament, especially with Ferguson’s early unavailability. The team has been releasing practice session videos and appears well-prepared and motivated as they look to go one step further than last season and claim their first-ever IPL title.