The runners-up of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS), had a remarkable season despite narrowly missing out on the title. With a young squad featuring several fresh faces, PBKS broke an 11-year playoff drought and finished at the top of the points table under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. They registered some impressive victories against the league’s most successful teams.
With head coach Ricky Ponting already promising a stronger comeback next season, PBKS must focus on addressing a few shortcomings, including strengthening their squad depth. Smart releases, tactical trades, and sharp auction strategies will be key in building a stronger squad for IPL 2026. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five players PBKS could consider releasing ahead of the next season.
Here are the five players Punjab Kings should release from their current squad:
1. Glenn Maxwell
First on the list and no surprise is Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. Renowned for his explosive stroke play and unorthodox shot-making, the 36-year-old has consistently underwhelmed in the IPL. Despite his reputation, Maxwell has been one of the most disappointing performers in the tournament’s history, failing to deliver across multiple franchises. In IPL 2025, Maxwell struggled with both form and fitness. He failed to make significant contributions with the bat and looked far from the match-winner PBKS had hoped to see when they added him to the squad. His numbers in this season further underline the concern in 7 matches, Maxwell scored just 48 runs, with a highest score of 30. He averaged a mere 8.00 with a strike rate of 97.96, far below the standards expected from a seasoned T20 campaigner.
2. Yash Thakur
Another in the list is right-arm pacer Yash Thakur. He was bought into the PBKS setup to bolster their Indian pace bowling unit, but he failed to leave any notable mark this season. While he showed glimpses of potential, his inability to consistently hit the right lengths or contain runs in pressure situations hurt Punjab on several occasions. in 2 matches, he bowled a total of 6.3 overs, conceding 79 runs and picking up just 1 wicket. He finished with a bowling average of 79.00 and an economy rate of 12.15 overall. In one of the matches, he claimed a solitary wicket but went for 13 runs in his over, highlighting the issue with his economy.
3. Xavier Bartlett
Xavier Bartlett was a surprise inclusion in the PBKS squad, and while his addition was seen as a move to bring fresh overseas pace options, he failed to live up to the expectations. The Australian quick looked out of rhythm on Indian pitches and lacked the effectiveness he has shown in the Big Bash League back home. In IPL 2025, Bartlett featured in 4 innings and managed to pick up just 2 wickets. He finished the season with a bowling average of 48.00 and an economy rate of nearly 10 runs per over far from ideal in the T20 format.
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4. Aaron Hardie
Another Australian on the list is pace all-rounder Aaron Hardie. Bought by PBKS for INR 1.5 crore as a backup for Marcus Stoinis, Hardie didn’t feature in a single game during IPL 2025. With several overseas all-rounders already in the squad, his inclusion seemed unnecessary. Releasing Hardie would free up funds and an overseas slot, allowing PBKS to target a quality spinner an area that clearly needs strengthening ahead of the next season.
5. Lockie Ferguson
Another pacer wraps up the list, New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson came into IPL 2025 with the reputation of being one of the fastest bowlers in the world. Unfortunately for PBKS, his performances didn’t match that reputation. Plagued by injuries and lacking rhythm, Ferguson’s high pace often turned into a liability as he leaked runs, especially at the death. In 4 innings, Ferguson managed to pick up just 5 wickets, with best bowling figures of 2 for 37 against Rajasthan Royals (RR). He ended the season with a bowling average of 20.80 and an economy rate of almost 9. While those numbers might look decent in isolation, but his fitness issues would make it difficult for the team to rely on him consistently.
