Punjab Kings’ Home Ground - Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA Stadium), also known as Dharamsala Cricket Stadium, in Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh is another important home venue for the IPL team Punjab Kings. Since 2010, Punjab Kings have been using this venue as one of their home venues. In the IPL 2025, HPCA Stadium will host three home matches for Punjab Kings. 

Recent matches played by PBKS at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs RCB - Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 60 runs

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs CSK - Mumbai Indians won by 9 runs

• IPL 2023 League Match: PBKS vs RR - Rajasthan Royals won by 3 wickets

Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 Home Matches at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

How to Buy Tickets for PBKS Matches at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala

(All the following information about IPL 2025 tickets is only expected. The actual information will be updated once the official statements)

Online Booking:

• Available on BookMyShow, PayTM Insider, and the Punjab Kings official website.
• Select your match, choose your seats, and make the payment.

Offline Purchase:

• Offline tickets may be available at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium box office and selected retail outlets.

Ticket Prices (Estimated):

• INR 2000-3000 (General Tickets)
• INR 5000-15000 (Pavilion Stands)
• INR 18000 (Dream11 Club Lounge Main Pavilion)
  

Punjab Kings’ Home Ground - Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh

Punjab Kings have been using Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh as the home venue since IPL 2024. It is their primary home venue at present. In the IPL 2025, PBKS will play their four home matches at this venue. 

Recent matches played by PBKS at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs GT - Gujarat Titans won by 3 wickets

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs MI - Mumbai Indians won by 9 runs

• IPL 2024 League Match: PBKS vs RR - Rajasthan Royals won by 3 wickets

Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 Home Matches at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh

How to Buy Tickets for PBKS Matches at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur in New Chandigarh

(All the following information about IPL 2025 tickets is only expected. The actual information will be updated once the official statements)

Online Booking:

• Available on BookMyShow, PayTM Insider, and the Punjab Kings official website.
• Select your match, choose your seats, and make the payment.

Offline Purchase:

• Offline tickets may be available at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium box office and selected retail outlets.

Ticket Prices (Estimated):

• INR 500-9500 (General Blocks)
• INR 13000 (VIP Boxes)
• INR 15000 (Corporate Boxes)

The IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) are desperate to end their long wait for the IPL playoffs, as they haven't experienced IPL playoffs for the last 10 seasons. Last season, they finished in ninth place. Let's check PBKS’ top buy in the auction, full squad, and completed squad for the IPL 2025.   

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Top Buys at IPL 2025 Auction

• Shreyas Iyer (INR 26.75 crore):  Shreyas Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders to win their IPL 2024 title. Punjab Kings broke the most expensive auction buy record to secure Shreyas Iyer, and it was broken by Lucknow Super Giants to sign Rishabh Pant for INR 27 crore.  
• Arshdeep Singh (INR 18 crore): The Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is an outstanding pacer who likes to dominate in the powerplay and slog overs with his unplayable swing deliveries and incredible yorkers. 
• Yuzvendra Chahal (INR 18 crore): The Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history with 205 wickets. 
• Marcus Stoinis (INR 11 crore): Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis likes to dominate with his aggressive batting and useful pace bowling skills. 
• Marco Jansen (INR 7 crore): South African left-arm pacer Marco Jansen likes to dominate with his fast bowling, while the right-handed lower-middle-order batter is also known as a hard-hitter. 
• Glenn Maxwell (NR 4.20 crore): Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is known for his aggressive batting, which can destroy any in-form bowlers, and his off-spin is also useful. 

Punjab Kings (PBKS) Full Squad for IPL 2025

Punjab Kings (PBKS) IPL 2025 Complete Schedule

March 25: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings at Ahmedabad (19:30 IST)

April 1: Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings at Lucknow (19:30 IST)

April 5: Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals at Mullanpur (19:30 IST)

April 8: Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings at Mullanpur (19:30 IST)

April 12: SunRisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings at Hyderabad (19:30 IST)

April 15: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Mullanpur (19:30 IST)

April 18: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings at Bengaluru (19:30 IST)

April 20: Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Mullanpur (15:30 IST)

April 26: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings at Kolkata (19:30 IST)

April 30: Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings at Chennai (19:30 IST)

May 4: Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants at Dharamsala (19:30 IST)

May 8: Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals at Dharamsala (19:30 IST)

May 11: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians at Dharamsala (15:30 IST)

May 16: Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings at Mumbai (19:30 IST)

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is the most highly anticipated cricket league all over the world. With major teams and cricket players participating to win the glamorous trophy, IPL 2025 will be a thrilling season.

• Organizer: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
• Edition: 18th season of IPL
• Total Teams: 10
• Match Format: T20 (20 overs per side)
• Number of Matches: Expected to be around 74
• Venues: Multiple cities across India
• Start Date: March 22
• Final Date:  May 25
• Official Broadcasters: Star Sports, JioHotstar (for digital streaming)

Participating Teams in ipl 2025

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) - Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
2. Mumbai Indians (MI) - Captain: Hardik Pandya
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) - Captain: Rajat Patidar
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - Captain: TBD
5. Delhi Capitals (DC) - Captain: TBD
6. Rajasthan Royals (RR) - Captain: Sanju Samson
7. Punjab Kings (PBKS) - Captain: Shreyas Iyer
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) - Captain: Pat Cummins
9. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) - Captain: Rishabh Pant
10. Gujarat Titans (GT) - Captain: Shubman Gill

IPL 2025 SCHEDULE:

• 22-Mar-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Kolkata)
• 23-Mar-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals (Hyderabad)
• 23-Mar-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians (Chennai)
• 24-Mar-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants (Visakhapatnam)
• 25-Mar-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings (Ahmedabad)
• 26-Mar-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Guwahati)
• 27-Mar-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants (Hyderabad)
• 28-Mar-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Chennai)
• 29-Mar-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians (Ahmedabad)
• 30-Mar-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Visakhapatnam)
• 30-Mar-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings (Guwahati)
• 31-Mar-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Mumbai)

APRIL:

• 01-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings (Lucknow)
• 02-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans (Bengaluru)
• 03-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Kolkata)
• 04-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians (Lucknow)
• 05-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals (Chennai)
• 05-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (New Chandigarh)
• 06-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants (Kolkata)
• 06-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans (Hyderabad)
• 07-Apr-25 (Mon) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Mumbai)
• 08-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings (New Chandigarh)
• 09-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals (Ahmedabad)
• 10-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals (Bengaluru)
• 11-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (Chennai)
• 12-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans (Lucknow)
• 12-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings (Hyderabad)
• 13-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Jaipur)
• 13-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (Delhi)
• 15-Apr-25 (Tue) 7:30 PM - Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals (Lucknow)
• 16-Apr-25 (Wed) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (New Chandigarh)
• 17-Apr-25 (Thu) 7:30 PM - Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans (Delhi)
• 18-Apr-25 (Fri) 7:30 PM - Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Mumbai)
• 19-Apr-25 (Sat) 3:30 PM - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings (Bengaluru)
• 19-Apr-25 (Sat) 7:30 PM - Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals (Ahmedabad)
• 20-Apr-25 (Sun) 3:30 PM - Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants (Jaipur)
• 20-Apr-25 (Sun) 7:30 PM - Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (New Chandigarh)
• April 20, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Chennai Super Kings (Mumbai)
• April 21, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Gujarat Titans (Kolkata)
• April 22, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Lucknow Super Giants vs. Delhi Capitals (Lucknow)
• April 23, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians (Hyderabad)
• April 24, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Rajasthan Royals (Bengaluru)
• April 25, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Chennai)
• April 26, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Punjab Kings (Kolkata)
• April 27, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Mumbai)
• April 28, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Delhi)
• April 29, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Gujarat Titans (Jaipur)
• April 30, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Delhi)

MAY:

• May 1, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Punjab Kings (Chennai)
• May 2, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Mumbai Indians (Jaipur)
• May 3, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Gujarat Titans vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Ahmedabad)
• May 4, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Gujarat Titans (Bengaluru)
• May 5, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals (Kolkata)
• May 6, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Dharamsala)
• May 7, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Delhi Capitals (Hyderabad)
• May 8, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Gujarat Titans (Mumbai)
• May 9, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Chennai Super Kings (Kolkata)
• May 10, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals (Dharamsala)
• May 11, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Lucknow Super Giants vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Lucknow)
• May 12, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Hyderabad)
• May 13, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians (Dharamsala)
• May 14, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Delhi Capitals vs. Gujarat Titans (Delhi)
• May 15, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Chennai Super Kings vs. Rajasthan Royals (Chennai)
• May 16, 2025 (Friday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (Bengaluru)
• May 17, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Gujarat Titans vs. Lucknow Super Giants (Ahmedabad)
• May 18, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Mumbai Indians vs. Delhi Capitals (Mumbai)
• May 19, 2025 (Monday, 7:30 PM) – Rajasthan Royals vs. Punjab Kings (Jaipur)
• May 20, 2025 (Tuesday, 7:30 PM) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (Bengaluru)
• May 21, 2025 (Wednesday, 7:30 PM) – Qualifier 1 (Ahmedabad)
• May 22, 2025 (Thursday, 7:30 PM) – Eliminator (Hyderabad)
• May 24, 2025 (Saturday, 7:30 PM) – Qualifier 2 (Kolkata)
• May 25, 2025 (Sunday, 7:30 PM) – Final (Kolkata)

IPL 2025 Highest Auction:

• Rishabh Pant:27 cr
• Shreyas Iyer:26.75
• Venkatesh Iyer:23.75
• Vaibhav Suryavanshi:1.1(Debue)

Major Highlights of 2025:

• Impact Player Rule Refining: The 2023 IPL rule is set to be made more flexible with modifications to include more strategic substitution.
  
• Venue Expansion: New locations can be incorporated into the host venue list to increase IPL's fan base all over India.
  
• DRS Rule Improvements: Enhanced technology and more review choices can be implemented to reduce errors made by umpires.
  
• Focus on Emerging Players: Franchises are acquiring young players with development programs and scouting programs.
  
• Salary Cap Hike: The BCCI is likely to hike the purse limit of franchises so that larger bids are possible in auctions.

ALSO READ:CSK vs MI at Chepauk: The Ultimate IPL Rivalry Set for March 23?

IPL 2025 SQUADS:

RCB: Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal, Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Dar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee, and Suyash Sharma.

CSK:Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Andre Siddarth, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Deepak Hooda, Rachin Ravindra, Vijay Shankar, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni, Vansh Bedi, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Gurjapneet Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Shreyas Gopal.

KKR:Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Josh Inglis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur.

MI:Hardik Pandya (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Bevon-John Jacobs, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Naman Dhir, Vignesh Puthur, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton, Shrijith Krishnan, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, Lizaad Williams, Arjun Tendulkar, Karn Sharma, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ashwani Kumar, Satyanarayana Raju.

DC:KL Rahul, Harry Brook, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karun Nair, Faf du Plessis, Donovan Ferreira, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, L Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Ajay Mandal, Darshan Nalkande, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav.

RR:Sanju Samson (Captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Nitish Rana, Yudhvir Singh, Dhruv Jurel, Kunal Singh Rathore, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Ashok Sharma, Kwena Maphaka.

PBKS:Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Pannu, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Josh Inglis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur.

SRH:Pat Cummins (Captain), Travis Head, Abhinav Manohar, Atharva Taide, Sachin Baby, Aniket Verma, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kamindu Mendis, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Zeeshan Ansari.

LSG:Rishabh Pant (Captain), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Aryan Juyal, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Arshin Kulkarni, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, M Siddharth, Akash Deep.

GT:Shubman Gill (Captain), Jos Buttler, Sherfane Rutherford, Glenn Phillips, B. Sai Sudharsan, M. Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Mahipal Lomror, Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, M. Prasidh Krishna, Gerald Coetzee, R. Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma.

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.