Irfan Pathan picks 2 players for Punjab Kings to release before the IPL 2026 auction

With the IPL2026 mini-auction is getting closer and excitement is steadily building across the cricketing landscape. The November 15 retention deadline has added even more intrigue, leaving franchises to make crucial decisions before entering the December auction. Among them, Punjab Kings (PBKS) are in a unique position, coming off a memorable IPL 2025 campaign that saw them reach the final for the first time in eleven years.

Led by Shreyas Iyer and the guidance of the head coach Ricky PontingPBKS delivered their most consistent season in over a decade, finishing in the top two of the points table. The rise of young people like Priyansh Aryawho impressed in his debut season with 475 runs, and Prabhsimran Singhwho amassed 499 runs in 14 matches added to their list of positives. With so much going right, the franchise now faces the challenging task of deciding which players to release before the 2026 mini-auction.

Irfan Pathan names two players that Punjab Kings should let go

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has discussed Punjab Kings’ retention dilemma and suggested two high-profile names that the franchise should consider releasing. In a video shared by Star Sports, Pathan expressed concern over the returns from Marcus Stoinis And Glenn Maxwell during the 2025 season.

Pathan questioned whether Stoinis justified the high price tag of ₹11 crore that Punjab had imposed on him, stressing that his performance fell well below expectations. Stoinis scored just 160 runs across 11 innings and struggled with the ball, taking just one wicket while conceding runs at an economy rate of 12.35. Pathan stressed that these figures did not reflect the impact expected of a high-quality all-rounder, making him a weak link in an otherwise successful PBKS campaign.

“Did Stoinis land the value of those 11 crores through performance? He scored 160 runs. His economy was also almost above 12. He did not justify his place”, Pathan said.

Pathan also pointed out Maxwell’s continued decline with the bat, noting that the Australian star has not delivered impressive performances in the last two IPL seasons. Maxwell scored just 48 runs from six innings in IPL 2025 and failed to make the explosive contributions he is known for. Although he took four wickets at a decent economy of 8.46, Pathan stressed that his primary role as a batting powerhouse remained unfulfilled, raising concerns about his value to Punjab Kings in the future.

“Maxwell didn’t score any runs. We haven’t seen much in his batting over the last two years and even his previous season wasn’t great before the injury,” Pathaan added.

Highlighting the financial benefit, Pathan said PBKS could free up around ₹15 crore by releasing Stoinis and Maxwell before the auction. Such a move would give the franchise significant flexibility to target impactful all-rounders or strengthen other parts of the squad during the bidding process.

Also READ: Punjab Kings: 5 Indian players PBKS can retain ahead of IPL 2026 auction

The core group was expected to remain intact

Despite the tough decisions ahead, Punjab Kings are expected to retain several key players. Pathan highlighted that people as a breakout star Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singhskipper Iyer, experienced spinner Yuzvendra Chahalpacer Arshdeep Singhand the reliable Shashank Singh are all an integral part of the core of the team.

As the retention period approaches, PBKS will attempt to find the right balance between maintaining stability and implementing necessary changes. With the mini-auction on the horizon, each decision could play a major role in shaping their bid for another deep play-off round in IPL 2026.

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