With the IPL 2026 mini-auction inching closer, excitement is steadily building across the cricketing landscape. The retention deadline of November 15 has added further intrigue, pushing franchises to make crucial decisions before entering the December auction. Among them, Punjab Kings (PBKS) find themselves in a unique position—coming off a memorable IPL 2025 campaign that saw them reach the final for the first time in 11 years.
Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and the guidance of head coach Ricky Ponting, PBKS delivered their most consistent season in over a decade, finishing in the top two on the points table. The rise of youngsters like Priyansh Arya, who impressed with 475 runs in his debut season, and Prabhsimran Singh, who amassed 499 runs in 14 matches, added to their list of positives. With so much going right, the franchise now faces the challenging task of deciding which players to release ahead of the 2026 mini-auction.
Irfan Pathan names two players Punjab Kings should let go
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has weighed in on Punjab Kings’ retention dilemma and suggested two high-profile names the franchise should consider releasing. In a video shared by Star Sports, Pathan expressed concern over the returns provided by Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell during the 2025 season.
Pathan questioned whether Stoinis justified the hefty ₹11 crore price tag placed on him by Punjab, highlighting that his performances fell well below expectations. Stoinis scored only 160 runs across 11 innings and struggled with the ball, taking just one wicket while conceding runs at an economy rate of 12.35. Pathan emphasized that these numbers did not reflect the impact expected from a high-value all-rounder, making him a weak link in an otherwise successful PBKS campaign.
“Did Stoinis bring the worth of those 11 crores on the ground through performance? He scored 160 runs. His economy was also over 12 almost. He did not justify his place,” said Pathan.
Pathan also pointed out Maxwell’s continued decline with the bat, noting that the Australian star has not delivered impactful performances in the last two IPL seasons. Maxwell managed just 48 runs from six innings in IPL 2025, failing to provide the explosive contributions he is known for. Although he picked up four wickets at a decent economy of 8.46, Pathan stressed that his primary role as a batting powerhouse remained unfulfilled, raising concerns about his value to Punjab Kings going forward.
“Maxwell did not score runs. In the last two years, we have not seen much in his batting and even his previous season was not great before injury,” added Pathan.
Highlighting the financial advantage, Pathan mentioned that PBKS could free up approximately ₹15 crore by releasing Stoinis and Maxwell ahead of the auction. Such a move would give the franchise significant flexibility to target impactful all-rounders or strengthen other areas of the squad during the bidding process.
Core group expected to stay intact
Despite the tough decisions ahead, Punjab Kings are expected to retain several key performers. Pathan emphasized that the likes of breakout star Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, skipper Iyer, veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, pacer Arshdeep Singh, and the dependable Shashank Singh are all integral to the team’s core moving forward.
As the retention deadline nears, PBKS will look to strike the right balance between preserving stability and making necessary changes. With the mini-auction on the horizon, every decision could play a significant role in shaping their bid for another deep playoff run in IPL 2026.
