Co-owner of Punjab Kings (PBKS) Ness Wadia Has publicly criticized the Australian wicketkeeper-batsman josh inglisHe was accused of acting unprofessionally over the way he informed about his availability for IPL 2026, a controversy which escalated after Inglis secured a lucrative deal in the auction.
The sharp comments followed a dramatic sequence of events that left PBKS frustrated and raised questions about the transparency of the process, with the franchise now considering whether to formally take up the issue with the BCCI.
Punjab Kings wanted to retain Josh Inglis after a strong IPL 2025 season
Wadia revealed that Punjab Kings were keen to retain Inglis after his stellar performances during the IPL 2025 season. However, the franchise’s plans were thrown into disarray when they were informed of their limited availability just 45 minutes before the retention deadline.
According to Wadia, Inglis told PBKS that he will miss a significant part of IPL 2026 due to his marriage taking place in early April, which has created uncertainty over his participation. With little time to adjust their strategy, Punjab felt forced to release him at his base price of ₹2.6 crore, rather than giving the retained slot to a player who was unavailable for most of the season.
There is a twist in the auction, PBKS is feeling “frazzled”
The situation took a strange turn during the IPL 2026 auction. Inglis initially went unsold in his first set, confirming Punjab’s concerns about availability. However, his comeback in the quick succession sparked a fierce bidding war, which culminated in Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) acquiring him for ₹8.6 crore.
For PBKS, a player’s vision is understood “Largely unavailable” Receiving more than three times his previous contract was hard to swallow. Wadia described the episode as extremely disappointing and suggested that the franchise felt misled and unfairly harmed.
Wadia indicated that Punjab Kings are exploring the option of approaching the BCCI, framing the issue as one of poor communication rather than auction mechanics. The franchise believes that an earlier clear disclosure in the retention window could have changed their decision-making.
Josh Inglis: “I didn’t expect big money”
Inglis has tried to defuse the situation by presenting his version of events in an interview with ABC Sport. The Australian international said he never expected a big-money move, given that his marriage and national commitments would limit him to only a short stint in IPL 2026.
He claimed that he had mentally disengaged from the auction after initially going unsold, but woke up only to receive messages informing him of LSG’s winning bid. According to Inglis, Lucknow’s interest was driven more by long-term planning than expectations of an immediate full-season impact.
