Co-owner of Punjab Kings (PBKS). Ness Wadia He openly criticized the Australian goalkeeper Josh EnglishThe controversy grew after Inglis bagged a lucrative deal at the auction, accusing him of being unprofessional in how he announced his availability for IPL 2026.
The sharp revelations followed a dramatic sequence of events that left the PBKS frustrated and questioning the transparency of the process, with the franchise now considering whether to formally raise the matter with the BCCI.
Punjab Kings wanted to retain Josh Inglis after a strong IPL 2025 season
Wadia has revealed his interest in retaining Inglis after Punjab Kings’ impressive performances in the IPL 2025 season. However, the franchise’s plans were derailed when it was informed of its limited availability just 45 minutes before the holdover period.
According to Wadia, Inglis told PBKS that he would miss a significant portion of IPL 2026 due to his wedding scheduled for early April, which created uncertainty over his participation. With little time to adjust their strategy, Punjab were forced to release him at a base price of ₹ 2.6 crore rather than give a player who was unavailable for most of the season a keeper.
The auction twist leaves PBKS feeling “cheated”.
Things took an awkward turn during the IPL 2026 auction. Inglis was initially unsold in his first set, seemingly validating Punjab’s worries about availability. However, his return in the accelerated round led to a fierce bidding war, which resulted in Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pocketing him for ₹ 8.6 crore.
For PBKS, a player is supposed to see “mostly unavailable” It was difficult to swallow more than three times his previous contract. Wadia described the episode as deeply disappointing, suggesting that the franchise felt cheated and unfairly disadvantaged.
Wadia stated that the Punjab Kings are exploring the option of approaching the BCCI, framing the issue as poor communication rather than auction mechanics. The franchise believes that clearer disclosure earlier in the retention window could have changed their decision-making.
Josh Inglis: “I didn’t expect big money”
Inglis tried to calm the situation by presenting his version of events in an interview with ABC Sport. The Australian international said he never expected a big-money move considering his wedding and national commitments would restrict him to only a short stint in IPL 2026.
He claimed that he had mentally left the auction after it was initially sold, only to wake up to messages informing him of LSG’s winning bid. According to Inglis, Lucknow’s interest was driven by long-term planning rather than expectations of an immediate full-season impact.
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