The squad enters IPL 2026 with renewed clarity and purpose, strengthened by the retention of 21 players, including six overseas talents. Sadda Squad continues to feature familiar and impactful names such as Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash, Marco Jansen, and Lockie Ferguson.
At the same time, strategic decisions are a hallmark of competitive cricket. With appreciation and gratitude, the franchise parts ways with Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, and Pravin Dubey. Their contributions remain deeply valued.
Addressing the decision to release Josh Inglis, head coach Ricky Ponting said:
"Josh is a terrific player. I would have loved to have had him as part of our squad going forward. But this year he wasn't going to be available for the majority of the tournament. So for that reason, I found it pretty much impossible to be able to retain him."
Armed with a remaining purse of ₹11.50 crore, the team now shifts its focus to the auction, aiming to secure four key additions including two overseas players. The primary objectives include signing an explosive middle-order batter, a reliable backup wicketkeeper, and additional Indian bowling options to further strengthen our attack.
While the top order featuring Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Shreyas Iyer looks solid, the emphasis will be on bolstering the lower middle order and identifying a batter capable of complementing the power-hitting prowess of Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis.
With the foundations firmly laid, the blueprint for a successful IPL 2026 campaign is coming together. The upcoming auction represents the next crucial milestone as the team works to secure the final pieces that can elevate Punjab Kings into one of the strongest contenders for the coveted IPL trophy.
