Punjab Kings team (Source: @Tejashyyyyy/x.com)
After reaching the IPL final after 11 years, the Punjab Kings had a massive heartbreak as they ended up as the runners-up. Now, with renewed confidence and a strong squad, Shreyas Iyer and his men are ready to return to the big stage with even bigger title ambitions.
The IPL stage has always given the desired stage to the young talents, but some stars faced the cruel side of it, too. In a 25-member squad, it becomes difficult to give opportunities to everyone, as frequent changes can disrupt the team’s balance and performance.
Stepping into the IPL 2026, the Punjab Kings are all set with a fiery squad. While fans are eager to witness explosive performances, a few big names might struggle to find a place in the playing XI. Let’s explore three players from the PBKS who might see the upcoming tournament from the sidelines.
Punjab Kings' players who can be bench-warmers in IPL 2026
1. Praveen Dubey
While announcing retention ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, the Punjab Kings parted ways with Karnataka leg spinner Praveen Dubey. In the auction table, franchise brought him back in his base price of 30 lakhs.
To strengthen the spin department, the franchise added him in the squad but in the IPL 2026, the scenario could be different. The Punjab Kings already some fierce bowlers and already have a mighty spinners with them.
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In the last IPL season, he featured in only one match and secured only one wicket while conceding 20 runs. After that, he remained on the sidelines. Representing Karnataka in the last edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he secured eight wickets in six matches.
Despite delivering some impressive spells, breaking into the playing XI might be difficult as the Punjab Kings already have a strong and well-settled spin attack. So, he can be seen in the sidelines throughout the IPL 2026.
2. Musheer Khan
In Mumbai’s domestic circuit, Musheer Khan is known for his outstanding all-round abilities. Along with his powerful hitting skills, he is also a reliable wicket-taker, making his versatility a valuable asset for any team.
Before the IPL 2026 auction, Musheer Khan was one among the 21 retained players of the Punjab Kings. in the last season, he played one match for the secured one wicket but didn’t score any runs.
As the franchise is all set to step into the upcoming edition, they added massive firepower in their all-round unit. The perfect blend of overseas stars and Indian talent has turned this unit into one of the biggest strengths of the side.
Among all though experienced stars, choosing Musheer Khan can be a tough choice for the side. As a result, there is a strong possibility that the talented all-rounder might spend most of the season on the bench.
3. Harnoor Singh
The Punjab-born left handed batter Harnoor Singh has showcased his excellence in the domestic circuit with consistent performances. After securing his services ahead of IPL 2025, the Punjab Kings retained the talented youngster for IPL 2026 alongside several star players.
In domestic T20s, his strike rate looked impressive but the PBKS is already having a fiery batting unit. With the strong Indian top batting order, featuring Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, it will be tough for him to find a place in the playing XI.
Moving to the middle order and lower middle order, all-rounders are ready to take the places. Even in nine domestic T20s, he scored 169 runs with one half-century, he might face a hard luck in the IPL 2026.
As the season is commencing soon, the PBKS management will try hard to go with their best possible xi and Harnoor Singh is yet to make his IPL debut. The Punjab-born batter could find himself on the sidelines, with limited chances of breaking into the playing XI in IPL 2026.
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