IPL 2026 auction: Unfixable blow for Punjab Kings! Head coach Ricky Ponting all set to miss the auction, Shreyas Iyer to travel to Abu Dhabi

In what has been the latest development, as per the reports in Cricbuzz, it is learned that Ricky Ponting is all set to miss the IPL 2026 auction. The bidding event is all set to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.

The reports claimed that Ricky Ponting will be missing the IPL 2026 auction due to Ashes 2025-26 commentator duties. The former Australian cricketer has been part of the broadcasting team in the Ashes and with the third Test set to be played on 17th December, he is unlikely to travel to Abu Dhabi. 

This comes as a massive blow as Ricky Ponting won’t be there where Punjab Kings would want to target some of the big names. Although they have a sorted squad but still some gaps that need to be filled as they need the replacement of Josh Inglis and some other players.

On the other hand, in the absence of Ricky Ponting, Shreyas Iyer will be making his presence felt at the IPL 2026 auction table. He will be travelling with the management to Abu Dhabi and will be playing a crucial role in picking players.

PBKS retained 21 players ahead of IPL 2026 auction. They released Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Praveen Dubey and Kyle Jamieson and would be looking to find their replacement for all these players in the IPL 2026 auction.

Entering into the IPL 2026 auction, PBKS will have a purse of 11.50 crore and have four slots left with 2 overseas.

List of players retained by Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod.