PBKS' best playing 11 plus Impact Player after IPL 2025 Auction ft. Shreyas Iyer & Marco Jansen
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) came into the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction with the highest purse of all 10 teams. Understandably, they made plenty of big-ticket buys.
Punjab brought back Arshdeep Singh via the RTM and spent massive amounts for Shreyas Iyer and Yuzvendra Chahal. It seemed like they'd struggle to put together a competitive squad after splurging in the marquee sets, but they managed to secure some valuable cut-price deals.
PBKS' squad for IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Harnoor Singh Pannu, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Josh Inglis, Vishnu Vinod, Prabhsimran Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Yuzvendra Chahal, Pravin Dubey, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Kuldeep Sen, Xavier Bartlett.
On that note, here is PBKS' strongest side, including an impact player, for IPL 2025.
Openers: Prabhsimran Singh (wk) and Marcus Stoinis
The retained Prabhsimran Singh will be one of PBKS' openers in IPL 2025. Either Marcus Stoinis or Josh Inglis could partner the uncapped wicket-keeper, with the former's bowling ability giving him an edge. Punjab haven't signed an out-and-out opener, but Stoinis has succeeded in the role before.
Middle order: Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen
PBKS' biggest signing of the IPL 2025 auction, Shreyas Iyer, should slot in at No. 3 as the captain. He will need to sort out his T20 game, which hasn't been at its best at the top level over the last few years.
The rest of the Kings' middle order is fairly straightforward to pick. Local boy Nehal Wadhera will be paired with Glenn Maxwell and Shashank Singh, with Marco Jansen serving as the primary pace-bowling all-rounder.
PBKS have the option of playing either Azmatullah Omarzai or Aaron Hardie instead of a specialist fast bowler, but they might be satisfied with the depth they currently have. The talented Priyash Arya is another choice at various position, but he might take some time to get used to the higher level.
Lower order: Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Yash Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS' marquee bowling signings, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, will lead the pace and spin attacks respectively. Yash Thakur being part of the XII seems like a smart idea, since he would add value alongside Arshdeep at the death.
Harpreet Brar, one of the team's most consistent performers in the last few IPL seasons, will be tasked with adding some depth to the lower order. Lockie Ferguson, who can crank it up in the middle overs, could be the Kings' specialist overseas quick ahead of Xavier Bartlett.
PBKS could consider playing either Vyshak Vijaykumar or Kuldeep Sen ahead of Thakur and Ferguson, but that would leave them a bit light at the most crucial phases of the innings.