punjab kings (PBKS) finished as runners-up in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, losing to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the final. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the team performed consistently well, with contributions from Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya and Arshdeep Singh helping them reach the final stage. However, the team faced challenges in the middle-order batting and bowling during the middle overs.
In this article, CricTracker takes an in-depth analysis of the five players that PBKS could target ahead of the auction to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2026 season of the cash-rich tournament, as the 2025 runners-up look to go a step further.
Here are 5 players Punjab Kings could target in the IPL 2026 auction
Matthew Short (Australia)
Australian top order batsman matthew short Could be an important addition for PBKS in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. In T20Is, Short has played 16 innings for Australia, scoring 331 runs. He has also contributed valuable runs in leagues like The Hundred, Big Bash League and Major League Cricket.
Short was part of the PBKS setup during the 2023 season, playing six games and scoring 117 runs. With his growing experience in international leagues, Short can provide stability at the top of the order, an area PBKS have often aimed to strengthen.
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