After that, the dust settled IPL 2026 auctionand squads are now theoretically locked. However, there is a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) camp. The franchise, which made headlines by breaking records to get Shreyas Iyer for a whopping INR 26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, is now facing a potential nightmare: the absence of their captain and batting lynchpin.
With the auction window closed, the franchise must rely on the injury replacement protocol (signing unsold players) or the trade window to fill the void.
IPL 2026: Punjab Kings may target 3 prospects if Shreyas Iyer misses out
1) Mayank Agarwal
The most logical, albeit dramatic, solution to the Iyer problem is to reunite with former captain Mayank Agarwal. Unsurprisingly unsold in the IPL 2026 auction – likely due to a high base price or a low T20 strike rate in the previous season – Agarwal remains one of the most experienced free agents available in the pool.
Agarwal’s recent domestic form for Karnataka was a reminder of his class. In the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he amassed over 400 runs, showing that he still has the hunger to dominate attacks. For PBKS, this makes perfect sense. Agarwal understands franchise culture from the inside. If Iyer is out, Punjab not only loses a batsman but also a captain. Agarwal can seamlessly slot into the leadership team (supporting a caretaker captain or taking the arm himself) and stabilize the top order. Allows for explosive shots, as does the ability to anchor shots Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh impersonated Iyer’s role, acting freely.
2) Wet Dhull
If the Punjab side is looking for a direct tactical swap – a right-handed No. 3 who can set up a shot – Yash Dhull is the pick from the unsold list. The 2022 U-19 World Cup-winning captain has often been viewed as a red-ball specialist, which led to him being overlooked in the auction, but his recent white-ball evolution suggests he is ready for the big stage.
Also READ: IPL 2026 – RCB may sign 3 players to replace Tim David if he misses out
Dhull looked sharp in the 2025-26 domestic season. During the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he played the role of accumulator to perfection for Delhi. He has strengthened his technique against pace and improved the spin of the bat against spin in the medium overs. Signing Dhull allows PBKS to maintain batting structure. He could step right into the No. 3 position, offering the stability needed to avoid slumps, a recurring issue for the franchise. It’s a low-risk, high-potential investment that looks to prove its critics wrong.
3) Abhinav Manohar
If the Punjab leadership decides it cannot replace Iyer’s stability, it may choose to double down on aggression. Enter Abhinav Manohar. It came as a shock to many that pure Karnataka dough did not sell, especially given the premium given to Hindu finishers.
PBKS often struggle with stagnation in the middle (7-15), a phase Iyer usually dominates through clever positioning. Manohar dominates her through brute force. His ability to hit sixes off one ball makes him a dangerous asset against spin. His recent exploits in the Maharaja Trophy, where he scored at a strike rate of around 170, prove that he is in touch. Bringing him in will require a shuffling of the batting order – perhaps moving up to the No. 3 all-rounder – but it will give Punjab a formidable lower-middle order. The finals duo of Abhinav Manohar and Marcus Stoinis can potentially win matches from impossible situations and mitigate the loss of their captain’s run volume with sheer impact.
Also READ: IPL 2026 – RCB 3 players can replace Josh Hazlewood if he misses out
