Star India cricketer reflects on Punjab Kings spin depth after IPL 2026 auction, says, ‘Doesn’t have …’

Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings added depth yo their squad by signing domestic players such as Vishnu Vinod and Praveen Dubey, while also bringing in Australia's all-rounder Cooper Connolly.

Written by: Sruti Thakur Edited by: Sruti Thakur

Updated: December 27, 2025, 12:01 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/sports/abhinav-mukund-reflects-on-punjab-kings-spin-depth-after-ipl-2026-auction-says-doesnt-have-enough-backup-for-yuzvendra-chahal-8246466/ Copy

Punjab Kings

New Delhi: At the TATA IPL 2026 Auction, Punjab Kings added depth yo their squad by signing domestic players such as Vishnu Vinod and Praveen Dubey, while also bringing in Australia’s all-rounder Cooper Connolly to add stability to the middle order. On JioHotstar’s “TATA IPL Auction Review”, Cricket experts Robin Uthappa and Abhinav Mukund appreciated the team’s smart picks but also pointed out concerns around their spin resources.

Robin Uthappa reflected on Vishnu Vinod as one of Punjab Kings most promising picks, “Vishnu Vinod is a really exciting signing for Punjab Kings, and I genuinely hope he gets regular opportunities in the IPL. We’ve only seen glimpses of his ability during his stint with Mumbai Indians, but he’s got phenomenal talent. His inclusion adds depth to the middle order and even offers a potential fast-bowling option. There’s a lot of value he can bring to this setup.”

Abhinav Mukund analyzed Punjab Kings balanced startegy

Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund assessed Punjab Kings balanced strategy at the auction, “Punjab Kings didn’t need much heading into the auction, having already invested heavily earlier. The only concern is Yuzvendra Chahal not featuring in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – so it’s unclear if they have enough backup for him. They’ve added Pravin Dubey, a leg-spinner from Karnataka, and Cooper Connolly, who’s an exciting left-handed all-rounder capable of batting anywhere from three to five. That versatility definitely adds value to their middle order.”

Punjab Kings will enter IPL 2026 as the runner-up

Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings had a very successful IPL 2025 season as they will enter IPL 2026 as the runner-up. After ending an 11-year wait to reach the final, the team will aim to carry that momentum into the tournament and clinch their maiden IPL title with a well-balanced squad.

Punjab Kings IPL 2026 squad: 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, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Praveen Dubey, Vishal Nishad