5 players Punjab Kings might target at IPL 2026 auction

Punjab Kings (PBKS) finished as the runners-up in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final. Led by Shreyas Iyer, the team performed consistently, with contributions from Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, and Arshdeep Singh helping them reach the final stage. However, the side faced challenges in their middle-order batting and bowling during the middle overs.

In this article, CricTracker analyses deeply into five players that the PBKS could target ahead of the auction to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2026 season of the cash-rich tournament, as the 2025 runners-up wish to go one step further.

Here are 5 players Punjab Kings might target at IPL 2026 auction

Matthew Short (Australia)

Australian top-order batter Matthew Short could be a key addition for PBKS in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. In T20Is, Short has played 16 innings for Australia, scoring 331 runs. He has also contributed valuable runs in leagues such as The Hundred, Big Bash League, and Major League Cricket.

Short was part of the PBKS setup during the 2023 season, playing six games and scoring 117 runs. With his growing experience across international leagues, Short can provide stability at the top of the order, an area PBKS has often aimed to strengthen.