Former Kolkata Knight Riders and India cricketer Robin Uthappa has suggested Punjab Kings to wisely utilize the services of uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Vishnu Vinod ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League. The youngster has played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in the past and has been selected by PBKS for the next season.
Uthappa shared that someone like the young stumper-batsman could be a great addition to the batting line-up of the two-time runners-up, and could be the good performer who takes the franchise to its first title in the marquee tournament. He believes Punjab needs depth and inclusion in its batting unit Vishnu Vinod This will help them chase big targets while maximizing their first innings total.
Uthappa said via JioStar, “Vishnu Vinod is a really exciting signing for Punjab Kings, and I really hope he gets regular opportunities in the IPL. We've only seen glimpses of his potential during his stint with Mumbai Indians, but he has phenomenal talent. His inclusion adds depth to the middle order and also provides a potential fast bowling option. He can bring a lot of value to this setup.”
PBKS needs Yuzvendra Chahal's backup: Abhinav Mukund
Meanwhile, former cricketer Abhinav Mukund has also said that there are fitness concerns regarding the star leg spinner. Yuzvendra Chahal His absence from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and then the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy indicated the need for backup on the board. Mukund suggested that players like Praveen Dubey or Cooper Connolly might be able to provide that option, however, reliability remains heavy on Chahal.
“Punjab Kings did not need much investment in the auction, as they had already invested heavily. The only concern is Yuzvendra Chahal not playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – so it is not clear whether they have enough backup for him. They have added Praveen Dubey, a leg spinner from Karnataka, and cooper connollyJoe is an exciting left-handed all-rounder who is capable of batting anywhere from three to five. This versatility definitely adds value to their middle order,” expressed Mukund.
PBKS team for IPL 2026:
Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Umzai, Marco Johnson, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vishak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Cooper Connolly, ben dwarshuisVishal Nishad, Praveen Dubey.
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