IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) are desperate to end their underperformed tag, which they have been carrying on since the 2015 season. In the last 10 years, PBKS failed to advance to the playoffs. In the last two seasons, PBKS finished in eighth and ninth places, respectively, out of ten participating teams.  

In the retention deadline, PBKS unsurprisingly retained only two uncapped players. Wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh and all-rounder Shashank Singh were the retained names before the mega auction

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025: Know about Priyansh Arya, Gurjapneet Singh, and Eshan Malinga

Punjab Kings: Key additions from the mega auction

While Punjab Kings started the mega auction with INR 110.50 crore, it was clear that they could go longer for any top players. PBKS won Shreyas Iyer’s bid, who was the IPL 2024 winning captain for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for INR 26.75 crore. It was the first time in IPL auction history to experience a bid of more than INR 25 crore. 

While they used RTM for Arshdeep Singh by spending INR 18 crore, PBKS bought the leading IPL wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal, and Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for INR 18 crore and 11 crore, respectively. 

The franchise also bought more overseas big names like South African all-rounder Marco Jansen, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, Australian fast bowler Xavier Bartlett, etc. 

PBKS Full Squad

Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Pyla Avinash, Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan

Wicketkeepers: Prabhsimran Singh (retained), Josh Inglis (Australian), Vishnu Vinod

All-rounders: Shashank Singh (retained), Glenn Maxwell (Australian), Marcus Stoinis (Australian), Aaron Hardie (Australian), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghan), Marco Jansen (South African), Suryansh Shedge

Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Praveen Dubey, Harpreer Brar

Pacers: Lockie Ferguson (New Zealander), Xavier Bartlett (Australian), (RTM) Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur

Brief SWOT analysis

Once again, PBKS had flaws in the auctions. Although they spent strong amounts to buy top overseas all-rounders and pacers, they can only use four of them in a match. Their Indian options are very limited in every aspect and mostly don’t have proper Indian alternates. 

There is no doubt that the team is very exciting with popular overseas names, but the team value is still not high enough due to very limited experienced Indian options. If the young and unfamiliar names do better, PBKS can dream of ending their long-struggling periods. 

PBKS Best Possible XI for IPL 2025

Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson/Marco Jansen

The IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) haven’t qualified for the playoffs for the last ten seasons. So, they are undoubtedly desperate to change the scenario in the next seasons. 

Unsurprisingly, PBKS retained only two uncapped players before the IPL 2025 mega auctions. While they spent only INR 9.5 crores in the retention, their remaining purse value before the auction was INR 110.50 crores. 

PBKS utilised RTM for Arshdeep Singh, while Shreyas Iyer joined the team after becoming the first to be auctioned over INR 25 crore. Yuzvendra Chahal and Marcus Stoinis were the others to manage over the INR 10 crore bid in the auction. Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Lockie Ferguson, etc. are the other big names in the PBKS family. 

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025: Top 5 Most Expensive Players from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Pre Auction Retentions

(Capped)

None

(Uncapped)

Shashank Singh (Indian): INR 5.50 Crore

Prabhsimran Singh (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction

4 capped players

Mega Auction Buys

Shreyas Iyer (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 26.75 crore

RTM Arshdeep Singh (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 18 crore

Yuzvendra Chahal (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 18 crore

Marcus Stoinis (Australian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 11 crore

Marco Jansen (South African): Base price INR 1.25 crore – Bid won INR 7 crore

Nehal Wadhera (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 4.20 crore

Glenn Maxwell (Australian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 4.20 crore

Priyansh Arya (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 3.80 crore

Josh Inglis (Australian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 2.60 crore

Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan): Base price INR 1.50 crore – Bid won INR 2.40 crore

Lockie Ferguson (New Zealander): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 2 crore

Vijaykumar Vyshak (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 1.80 crore

Yash Thakur (Indian): Base price INR 40 lakh – Bid won INR 1.60 crore

Harpreet Brar (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 1.50 crore

Aaron Hardie (Australian): Base price INR 1.25 crore – Bid won INR 1.25 crore

Vishnu Vinod (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 95 lakh

Kuldeep Sen (Indian): Base price INR 75 lakh – Bid won INR 80 lakh

Xavier Bartlett (Australian): Base price INR 75 lakh – Bid won INR 80 lakh

Suryansh Shedge (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Pyla Avinash (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Musheer Khan (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Harnoor Singh (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Praveen Dubey (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Full Squad

Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey.

Best Playing XI

Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson/Marco Jansen

The IPL 2025 auction has not only made headlines for record-breaking bids but also brought a delightful surprise for fans: Shreyas Iyer and Yuzvendra Chahal are now teammates. As Iyer joins the same squad as Chahal, social media is abuzz with throwbacks to their iconic fun moments, including hilarious Instagram reels, witty banter, and appearances with Chahal.

Auction drama reunites the dynamic duo

Shreyas Iyer’s ₹26.75 crore move in the IPL 2025 mega auction was already the talk of the town, making him the most expensive Indian player before Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 crore deal. Now, with Iyer and Chahal on the same team, fans are doubly excited. Yuzvendra Chahal, too, fetched a massive ₹18 crore, highlighting his value as a match-winning spinner. Chahal, a seasoned spinner and master of on-field mind games, has been a crowd favorite for his witty off-field personality as well.

Iyer and Chahal’s chemistry goes beyond cricket. Fans fondly remember their fun challenges, such as Chahal’s playful trolling of Iyer’s dance moves and Dhanashree’s involvement in choreographed reels. With their reunion, fans are hoping for more lighthearted moments off the field, adding to the excitement of their on-field performances.

See Also: Pant beats Shreyas to become most expensive player in IPL history

A new chapter 

The duo’s reunion promises not just a powerful combination on the field but also endless entertainment off it. Both players bring unique strengths to the team: Iyer with his explosive batting and leadership, and Chahal with his sharp bowling and game-changing abilities. With their camaraderie already well-established, the IPL 2025 season could see a perfect mix of intense cricket and hilarious antics.

The big question now is: will this dynamic duo create as many unforgettable moments on the field as they did off it? Fans are eagerly waiting to find out.

Shreyas Iyer and Yuzi Chahal in the same team iykyk! 😂😂 #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/WoLpX5OdgN

— nishant. (@NishantADHolic_) November 24, 2024

Imagine Shreyas Iyer and Yuzi Chahal in one team. ☠️#ipl2025auction #ipl

pic.twitter.com/bWfFTn9qsM

— Keano Says 🥷 (@KeanoSays) November 24, 2024

Shreyas and chahal in Punjab 🍿🍿🤣🤣#IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/lgxaGngiX2

— Real deal (@hang4you) November 24, 2024

The IPL 2025 mega auction began with a bang. All eyes were on Shreyas Iyer, the star Indian middle-order batter. Iyer lived up to expectations as he broke all records, becoming the first Indian and the only player in IPL history to command a jaw-dropping bid of ₹26.75 crore. Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru were locked in an intense bidding war for the former IPL-winning captain before he was snapped up at this historic amount.

This milestone comes on the heels of Iyer’s scintillating knock in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on November 23, where he hammered an unbeaten 130 off just 57 balls for Mumbai. Displaying masterful strokeplay, Iyer smashed 11 fours and 10 sixes, propelling Mumbai to a mammoth total of 250/4. The innings further solidified his reputation as one of the most sought-after players in T20 cricket.

Shreyas Iyer: The hottest pick in IPL 2025 auction

Shreyas Iyer’s record-breaking ₹26.75 crore bid marks a significant moment in IPL history. Iyer, who was surprisingly not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders after leading them to the IPL 2024 title, has consistently proven his worth as a dependable middle-order batter and a shrewd captain. The 29-year-old has played for Delhi Capitals and KKR in previous seasons, famously leading Delhi to the IPL final in 2020.

This time, Delhi Capitals were determined to bring back their former captain. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings, with Ricky Ponting at the helm, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, looking for a successor to Faf du Plessis, also entered the fray. With a base price of ₹2 crore, Iyer’s meteoric rise in value underscores his unparalleled impact on the game.

𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑 🔄 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐘𝐀𝐒! ♥️#ShreyasIyer #IPL2025Auction #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/jpJHcXPepQ

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) November 24, 2024

𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐞-YESSS! 🤩

Welcome to the den, paaji! ❤️#ShreyasIyer #IPL2025Auction #PunjabKings

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) November 24, 2024

41 Cr ke purse ke saath 22 Cr ke bids dekhte hue hum… pic.twitter.com/KshLPw4iwe

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 24, 2024

See Also: King Kohli’s 7th Australian Test ton powers India in Perth

The road ahead for Shreyas Iyer

Iyer’s historic auction moment wasn’t just about the money; it reflected his unmatched talent and leadership skills. As the IPL 2025 season looms, the player will have the added pressure of living up to his price tag. With franchises investing heavily, fans eagerly await how Iyer will lead and perform in the upcoming season.

From setting the stage ablaze in domestic cricket to creating history at the IPL auction, Shreyas Iyer’s journey is a testament to his grit and brilliance in the shortest format of the game.

On the retention deadline, the one-time IPL runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) have announced their retained players for the IPL 2025.

Punjab Kings are known for their underperformances. They have finished in the top four of the IPL seasons only twice. Apart from suffering elimination from the semifinals in the inaugural IPL edition (2008), they were the league stage champions at the IPL 2014, where they finished as the runners-up after losing the final against Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Punjab Kings haven’t played in the IPL playoffs for the last 10 years. Last season, they finished in the ninth position.

While Shikhar Dhawan led the PBKS in the complete IPL 2023, he initially led the team during the 2024 edition before a shoulder injury knocked him out of the tournament. English all-rounder Sam Curran led the Punjab franchise as a stand-in captain in 2024, and Jitesh Sharma was the stand-in captain for their last match of the 2024 season. 

Punjab Kings player retention

Punjab Kings have announced only two uncapped retentions with a total value of INR 9.50 Crore. The franchise can play a big role in the upcoming mega auction, where they will start with the remaining purse value of INR 110.50 crore. 

(Capped)

None

(Uncapped)

Shashank Singh (Indian): INR 5.50 Crore

Prabhsimran Singh (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction

4 capped players

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has shared details of a challenging period with former Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) director of operations, Virender Sehwag, during the IPL 2017 season. In his new book, Maxwell recounts the friction between him and Sehwag, highlighting issues related to team selection, management decisions, and a public fallout that ultimately led to a strained relationship.

Sehwag’s role in team decisions and Maxwell’s discontent

Maxwell, who captained PBKS during the 2017 season, detailed how Sehwag maintained significant control over team selection, sidelining input from the coaching staff. Despite a consensus to involve all coaches in a WhatsApp group for team decisions, Sehwag ignored suggestions and asserted his authority to pick the playing XI unilaterally. This approach, according to Maxwell, contributed to the team’s underwhelming performance that season.

In his book, Maxwell explained, “We thought it might be beneficial to include the coaching staff in a WhatsApp group for team decisions. Everyone was on board, except for Sehwag. In the end, he was the one calling the shots on the starting XI, and this affected the morale both on and off the field.”

Public fallout after loss to rising Pune Super Giants

Maxwell also recounted the aftermath of PBKS’s final game of the season against Rising Pune Super Giants, which they lost by nine wickets. Following the match, Maxwell volunteered to face the media, but Sehwag chose to go instead, using the opportunity to criticize Maxwell publicly, calling him a “big disappointment” and blaming him for failing to take responsibility as captain. Maxwell was surprised by this, especially when he found out that he had been removed from the team’s WhatsApp group soon after the game.

The former PBKS captain also mentioned his private response to Sehwag’s remarks: “I texted him saying how much it hurt to hear those comments. I told him he’d lost a fan in me. He responded, saying he didn’t need a fan like me. That was the last we spoke.”

See Also: Santner shines with record-breaking performance against India

Maxwell eventually left PBKS and played for other franchises, including Delhi Capitals in 2018 and later rejoining PBKS in 2020. Since 2021, he has been a part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with his future in the franchise still under consideration.

The 69th match of the IPL 2024 season will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, May 19, 2024. However, Punjab Kings won the toss and opted to bat first.

SRH won seven games so far and lost five as well. On the other hand, PBKS won five games so far and they lost eight games as well. However, both teams will try to win the game and keep the momentum on. This is going to be an exciting match for both teams as well.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

IPL 2024: SRH vs PBKS, Match 69: Who said what at the toss?

Pat Cummins: The fans have been awesome this season here. We are pretty well set-up for both (bat first or ball first. I’m a terrible reader of wickets, looks like a nice wicket. Looks dry and firm. Only one change for us. Rahul Tripathi comes in for a bowler.

Jitesh Sharma: We would like to bat. I think wicket is looking good, we want to score big and put SRH under pressure. Proud and grateful to captain my side today. We have few options because all the overseas have gone gone. Only Rilee Rossouw is gonna play. We have exciting talent waiting for their opportunity and they are gonna give their best today. Nothing to lose today, we are here to play some good cricket.

Playing XIs:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanvir Singh, Pat Cummins(c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, T Natarajan

Sunrisers Hyderabad Impact Subs: Travis Head, Umran Malik, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Jaydev Unadkat

Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Atharva Taide, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Ashutosh Sharma, Shivam Singh, Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar

Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Arshdeep Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Prince Choudhary, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Harpreet Singh Bhatia

Punjab Kings registered a convincing win by 5 wickets over Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati in the 65th match of the ongoing IPL 2024 on Wednesday, May 15. Sam Curran smashed a quick fifty and the bowlers helped the team win.

RR players failed to do well with the bat

Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bat first. RR had a poor start as their opener Yashasvi Jaiswal got out for a mere 4. However, Kohler-Cadmore and Sanju Samson tried to steady the ship but they couldn’t do much. Riyan Parag played yet another good knock of 48 off 34. On the other hand, R Ashwin also scored 28 off 19 with 3 fours and 1 six.

Their efforts helped them post a decent total of 144 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Sam Curran, Harshal Patel and Rahul Chahar claimed 2 wickets each.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

Sam Curran scored a quick fifty

While chasing, PBKS lost their in-form opener Prabhsimran Singh for a mere 4. However, Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw tried to steady the ship and added 30 runs within 5.3 overs before the latter got out. Soon Shashank Singh also got out for a duck.

However, after their dismissals, middle-order batters Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma stepped up. While Sam scored a quickfire 63 off 41 with 5 fours and 3 sixes, Jitesh Sharma scored 22 and Ashutosh Sharma’s quick 17 helped them to win the match by 5 wickets and 18.5 overs in hand.

Sanju Samson said after the match: “We needed a few more runs. I think we were 10-15 runs short. It was a 160 kind of a wicket. We would have easily got more than 160 (had we played better), that’s where we lost the game. Would have been nice to have one more bowling option. I am getting used to five quality bowlers. We have to sit back and accept that we are going through failures, have lost four games on the trot. Got to find out what’s not working out for us as a team.

Somebody needs to step up, we have so many match-winners in the team. This is the time we need to show character. We need to score more runs. We thought 160-170 would have been a good score. We are not used to playing on such wickets this season where 200-plus totals are getting scored easily. We had to play smart cricket and build those partnerships today. Hopefully the result goes in our way (in the upcoming games.)”

Following Liam Livingstone‘s departure from the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Rajasthan Royals bid farewell to another English cricketer as explosive batsman Jos Buttler exits the tournament to fulfil his national commitments.

Buttler’s Farewell: Rajasthan Royals Lose a Key Player

In a poignant video shared by the Rajasthan Royals’ official social media handle, Jos Buttler is seen bidding farewell to his teammates before departing from the Royals’ camp. His departure leaves a void in the team, depriving Rajasthan of a critical player known for his explosive batting prowess.

Liam Livingstone’s Departure: English Exodus from IPL Continues

The exit of Jos Buttler marks the continuation of a trend wherein English players have been leaving the IPL midway to prepare for international duties. Liam Livingstone’s departure preceded Buttler’s exit, adding to the list of English stars relinquishing their IPL campaigns for national duty.

See Also: GT vs KKR: Toss delayed due to bad weather; Check latest updates

Liam Livingstone’s premature departure from the IPL was driven by concerns over his fitness, particularly his troublesome knee. Having suffered from a series of muscle injuries recently, Livingstone prioritized his recovery for the T20 World Cup to ensure his availability for England’s campaign.

ECB’s Call: National Duty Beckons for England Players

The decision to leave the IPL stems from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) call for World Cup-bound players to return to the national setup ahead of the crucial series against Pakistan. With the T20Is against Pakistan serving as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming T20 World Cup, key players like Buttler become imperative for England.

Following Livingstone and Buttler’s exit, the rest of England’s World Cup squad members who participated in the IPL are expected to return home. Players like Will Jacks, Reece Topley, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, and Phil Salt will join their teammates in England, where they will regroup ahead of the series against Pakistan. The squad is scheduled to reconvene in Leeds ahead of England’s first T20I against Pakistan at Headingley on May 22.

Reunion in Leeds: England Squad Gathers for T20I Against Pakistan

The England squad’s reunion in Leeds marks the beginning of a crucial phase in their preparation for the T20 World Cup. As players regroup and focus shifts towards the series against Pakistan, anticipation builds among fans as they eagerly await the team’s performance on home soil.

The 53rd match of the IPL 2024 season will be played between Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday, May 5, 2024. However, Punjab Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first.

PBKS won four games so far and lost seven as well. On the other hand, GT won four games so far and they lost six games as well. However, both teams will try to win the game and keep the momentum on. This is going to be an exciting match for both teams as well.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

IPL 2024: PBKS vs CSK, Match 53: Who said what at the toss?

Ruturaj Gaikwad: We’ve just stuck to our process and doing little things right. We don’t look at the track record of the opposition, we focus on ourselves and see what we can do right. This season there have been a lot of injuries, flus and forced changes so we’ve had to tinker with our team. I’d say losing 10 tosses but winning 5 games is a positive. Santner comes in place of Fizz.

Sam Curran: We’re going to bowl. Day game, try and see how it plays and chase it down. We’ve got the same team. We’ve had two really good wins with the same team. Conditions should be fairly even throughout, it’s about batting, bowling and fielding well.

Playing XIs:

Punjab Kings: Jonny Bairstow, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Rishi Dhawan

Chennai Super Kings: Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w), Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Richard Gleeson, Tushar Deshpande

Chennai Super Kings Impact Subs: Sameer Rizvi, Simarjeet Singh, Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki