5 PBKS players who can be match-winners in IPL 2026

Punjab Kings were one of the teams to watch out for last season, making it to the finals but just falling short. A brilliant season for Shreyas Iyer’s men was followed up in the auction with the retention of the same core, with additions around it to fill gaps in the squad.

They possess highly talented players, who have been put in roles that maximise their strengths under Australian great Ricky Ponting. Keeping their system from the previous season alive, they will be looking to go one step further and finally lift their first IPL trophy.

Let us take a look at five players who can be matchwinners for the Punjab Kings in IPL 2026.

5) Priyansh Arya

Punjab Kings gave a young Priyansh Arya a spot at the top of the order right from the start of the 2025 season. This faith was repaid in full by the dashing Delhi opener, who amassed 475 runs at a blistering strike rate of 179.24. That season he also made the third-fastest century by an Indian in the IPL, scoring a hundred off just 39 balls against the Chennai Super Kings.

His returns in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy were decent, with 197 runs at a strike rate of 155.11, ad he has showed the ability to be a reliable presence for the Punjab Kings. His brilliant shot-making ensures the Punjab Kings will be able to start their batting innings on the front foot with fast starts.

4) Suryansh Shedge

Suryansh Shedge broke out in the domestic circuit as an impressively talented lower-order hitter, with vital knocks for Mumbai in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali triumph and Vijay Hazare Trophy, establishing himself as a well-known name in the domestic circuit. With a career strike rate of 181.65 in T20s, he is a player to watch out for.

Suryansh is not an anchor who holds the innings together. Instead, what he is best at is taking the bowlers to the cleaners at the back end of the innings. He saved Mumbai from multiple tricky situations with his destructive batting, and he will be expected to play the same role for Punjab this season.

3) Shashank Singh

Shashank Singh has been one of the mainstays for the Punjab Kings since 2024. He has been reliable with the bat and has got the team through tricky situations on multiple occasions across both seasons. He is an aggressive batter, capable of hitting a long ball and accelerating the scoring at the death, while possessing the ability to stabilise the innings and take games deep. 

His tally of 350 runs at a strike rate of 153.51 may not seem impressive on first glance, but his small contributions have been vital for the Punjab Kings. His unbeaten 61 off just 30 balls almost took Punjab over the line in the final, but they fell short by six runs against a spirited Royal Challengers Bengaluru side.

2) Marco Jansen

Alongside Arshdeep, in Marco Jansen, Punjab Kings have two of the best left-arm fast-bowlers in the circuit currently. The tall Proteas quick is a threat, generating steep bounce due to his height. That factor combined with his ability to move the new ball both ways and his accuracy in length makes him a lethal bowler. 

Jansen also adds lower-order firepower with the bat, having developed into a genuine all-rounder who can clear the boundary with his long reach. He has turned games around for South Africa with both bat and ball, and Punjab will be expecting the same of him this season as well.

1) Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh is Punjab Kings’ strike bowler. With 21 wickets in the 2025 season, he played a vital role in Punjab’s ascent to the final. He is now one of the Indian team’s lead quicks in the shortest format. A skillful left-arm seamer, Arshdeep can move the ball both ways, has an arsenal of slower balls, and is impeccably accurate, making him a threat in all phases of the game with the ball.

He is now Punjab’s de-facto attack leader and would be expected to step up if Punjab have to right the wrongs of 2025.