<p>Punjab Kings had a memorable run in IPL 2025 under Shreyas Iyer, finishing top of the league stage and reaching the final. However, the 2026 edition told a different story, as the Kings began with promise before losing momentum and ending the season fifth on the points table with seven wins from 14 matches.</p>
<p>With the IPL 2027 Retention Deadline falling on November 17, 2026, the franchise must now decide which players to hold on to and which to release ahead of the auction. Three names in particular stand out as potential cuts given their performances and squad dynamics.</p>
<h3>3. Nehal Wadhera</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1744358124937_Nehal-Wadhera.jpeg" alt="Nehal Wadhera" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Nehal Wadhera. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/nehal-wadhera/"><strong>Nehal Wadhera</strong></a> endured a sharp dip in form during IPL 2026, scoring just 65 runs across six innings at an average of 10.83. That represents a significant fall from his 369-run tally in IPL 2025. Hardik Pandya's presence at PBKS is expected to take up a middle-order spot, which could further limit Wadhera's chances of regular game time. If he finds himself on the fringes of the XI, Wadhera may look to move to a new franchise where he can play more consistently.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>2. Mitchell Owen</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1753071432450_Mitchell-Owen.jpeg" alt="Mitchell Owen" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Mitchell Owen. (Photo Source: Twitter/X)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/mitchell-owen/"><strong>Mitchell Owen</strong></a> is an Australian batting all-rounder who was retained by Punjab Kings at INR 3 crore ahead of IPL 2026. However, with Hardik Pandya already occupying a key all-rounder's role in the side, and overseas options Marco Jansen and Azmatullah Omarzai also part of the Kings' set-up, finding a place for Owen in the playing XI becomes a genuine challenge. Fitting four all-rounders into a balanced line-up is difficult, and Owen's limited opportunities make his retention a hard case to justify going into IPL 2027.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>1. Marcus Stoinis</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1748702061203_Marcus-Stoinis.jpeg" alt="Marcus-Stoinis" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Marcus-Stoinis. (Photo source: IPL)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/marcus-stoinis/"><strong>Marcus Stoinis</strong></a> managed just over 200 runs in IPL 2026 across nine innings, finishing with a batting average of 22.77. The veteran Australian all-rounder also contributed only 2 wickets with the ball, at an economy rate of 12.51, making it a difficult campaign by his own standards. Releasing Stoinis would free up INR 11 crore in PBKS's auction budget, a significant sum that the franchise could reinvest in the IPL 2027 Auction to address gaps in the squad</p>

<p>Punjab Kings had a memorable run in IPL 2025 under Shreyas Iyer, finishing top of the league stage and reaching the final. However, the 2026 edition told a different story, as the Kings began with promise before losing momentum and ending the season fifth on the points table with seven wins from 14 matches.</p>
<p>With the IPL 2027 Retention Deadline falling on November 17, 2026, the franchise must now decide which players to hold on to and which to release ahead of the auction. Three names in particular stand out as potential cuts given their performances and squad dynamics.</p>
<h3>3. Nehal Wadhera</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1744358124937_Nehal-Wadhera.jpeg" alt="Nehal Wadhera" width="659" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Nehal Wadhera. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/nehal-wadhera/"><strong>Nehal Wadhera</strong></a> endured a sharp dip in form during IPL 2026, scoring just 65 runs across six innings at an average of 10.83. That represents a significant fall from his 369-run tally in IPL 2025. Hardik Pandya's presence at PBKS is expected to take up a middle-order spot, which could further limit Wadhera's chances of regular game time. If he finds himself on the fringes of the XI, Wadhera may look to move to a new franchise where he can play more consistently.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>2. Mitchell Owen</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1753071432450_Mitchell-Owen.jpeg" alt="Mitchell Owen" width="658" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Mitchell Owen. (Photo Source: Twitter/X)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/mitchell-owen/"><strong>Mitchell Owen</strong></a> is an Australian batting all-rounder who was retained by Punjab Kings at INR 3 crore ahead of IPL 2026. However, with Hardik Pandya already occupying a key all-rounder's role in the side, and overseas options Marco Jansen and Azmatullah Omarzai also part of the Kings' set-up, finding a place for Owen in the playing XI becomes a genuine challenge. Fitting four all-rounders into a balanced line-up is difficult, and Owen's limited opportunities make his retention a hard case to justify going into IPL 2027.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>1. Marcus Stoinis</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1748702061203_Marcus-Stoinis.jpeg" alt="Marcus-Stoinis" width="659" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Marcus-Stoinis. (Photo source: IPL)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/marcus-stoinis/"><strong>Marcus Stoinis</strong></a> managed just over 200 runs in IPL 2026 across nine innings, finishing with a batting average of 22.77. The veteran Australian all-rounder also contributed only 2 wickets with the ball, at an economy rate of 12.51, making it a difficult campaign by his own standards. Releasing Stoinis would free up INR 11 crore in PBKS's auction budget, a significant sum that the franchise could reinvest in the IPL 2027 Auction to address gaps in the squad</p>

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