Punjab Kings have not retained any players for IPL 2025, opting to build their squad entirely through the mega auction. The franchise secured a total of 25 players during the auction. However, with only 12 spots available in the playing XI, 13 of them will likely remain on the bench. The big question is—which players will miss out? To determine this, let's take a closer look at Punjab Kings’ probable starting lineup.
Shreyas Iyer to Lead Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings made headlines by securing Shreyas Iyer as the most expensive player of the auction for ₹26.75 crore. The franchise invested heavily in him with the intent of making him the captain, a role he will indeed take on for IPL 2025. This ensures his spot in the playing XI.
Shashank names his probable XII for first game : #PBKS #IPL2025
Inglis , Prabh , Shreyas , Maxi , Stoinis , Shashank , Wadhera , Jansen , Brar , Arshdeep , Chahal . IP : Sain , Thakur pic.twitter.com/zqxZyj8GxD— AARYAN (@AARYAN0791) March 16, 2025
Probable Playing XI for Punjab Kings
Analyzing the team composition, Punjab Kings are expected to field the following XI:
- Openers: Josh Inglis, Prabhsimran Singh
- Middle Order: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Nihal Wadhera
- Bowlers: Marco Jansen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar
- Impact Player: Yash Thakur
Punjab Kings’ player Shashank Singh has also hinted that this could be the probable playing XI for their opening match.
13 Players Likely to Miss Out
With only 12 spots available, 13 players are expected to sit out Punjab Kings’ first match against Gujarat Titans on March 25. These players include:
Prashant Arya, Azmatullah Omarzai, Lockie Ferguson, Vijaykumar Vyas, Aaron Hardy, Kuldeep Sen, Vishnu Vinod, Mushir Khan, Xavier Bartlett, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey, Harnoor Singh, and Payala Avinash.
