ipl 2026 auctionSet for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, promises high drama depending on choice of teams punjab kings Finalize your squads with the remaining purse of ₹11.5 crore and four slots including two overseas venues filled. After retaining the 21-player core, PBKS aim to boost their batting depth and middle-order stability after a strong IPL 2025 campaign. With intense bidding expected for explosive talents, Punjab Kings may target versatile performers to boost their playoff push.
5 players whom Punjab Kings can buy in IPL 2026 mini auction
- josh inglis
Australian josh inglis Has emerged as a key overseas pick for PBKS, offering explosive top-order batting and reliable glovework with a T20 strike rate of over 156 in 30 matches, where he scored 672 runs including a century. His recent T20 form, which includes 68 fours and 24 sixes, suits Punjab’s aggressive powerplay strategy, despite limited availability for IPL 2026 due to national duties. At a base price of around ₹2 crore, Inglis can anchor the lineup while freeing up domestic keepers, addressing PBKS’ need for overseas balance.
- cooper connolly
Young Australian all-rounder cooper connolly In his BBL 2025 exploits for Perth Scorchers, he scored 351 runs at a strike rate of 131.46 and took six wickets at an economy of 7.41 in 10 innings. His middle-order firepower, which includes two fifties and handy left-arm spin, makes him ideal for PBKS’s spin-friendly Mullanpur pitch and death-over versatility. As an uncapped overseas talent with performances in the Champions Trophy, Connolly represents smart value looking to make a youthful and multi-step impact in the Punjab team.
Also read: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) may target 5 players in the IPL 2026 auction
- Vishnu Vinod
Great wicketkeeper of Kerala Vishnu Vinod Brought List A pedigree by topping the run charts with 508 runs at an average of 63.50 in 2019-20 Vijay HazareTogether Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Recently promised to score 94 runs at 159 strike rate. Despite modest IPL returns of 56 runs in six matches, his boundary-hitting ability – a six every 8.5 balls in domestic T20s – fits the bill at the uncapped price in PBKS’s search for a finisher. Vinod’s glovework and Kerala’s consistency could provide depth behind the retained options
- steve smith
steve smithWith 2,485 IPL runs at 34.51 average including one century and 11 fifties in 103 matches, he offers proven class to stabilize PBKS’s top order amid the recent T20 resurgence. His tactical acumen and ability to handle the innings on difficult surfaces is in line with his leadership of Punjab post-2025 success. As a capped overseas batsman entering the auction pool, Smith can offer advice to the youngsters while pursuing high-pressure chases at a reasonable cost.
Also read: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) may target 5 players in the mini auction of IPL 2026
