PBKS IPL 2026 Auction: Smart Buys by Iyer-Ponting, But Key Gaps Remain

• PBKS entered IPL 2026 mini-auction with the second-lowest purse (Rs 11.50 crore) after retaining most of their core squad.
• Key acquisitions include Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly (Rs 3 crore) and Dutch pacer Ben Dwarshuis (Rs 4.40 crore).
• Squad strength lies in core continuity, experienced players, strong pace attack (Arshdeep, Jansen, Dwarshuis, Ferguson), and all-rounders like Marcus Stoinis.
• Weaknesses include a thin wicketkeeper-batter backup for Prabhsimran Singh and an untested spin department beyond Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar.
• PBKS could have targeted an Indian wicketkeeper-batter and more experienced spin options to fill existing gaps.

Why It Matters: PBKS made strategic buys but still has gaps in wicketkeeping and spin despite a strong core.