Punjab Kings enter IPL 2026 with a renewed squad under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy and Ricky Ponting's coaching. Their bowling attack is significantly improved with world-class pace options, while their batting has depth and firepower. Mullanpur — their relatively new home ground — adds an interesting venue dynamic to PBKS fantasy picks.
PBKS Key Fantasy Picks for IPL 2026
Arshdeep Singh — Elite Indian Left-Arm Pacer
Arshdeep is PBKS's premier bowling fantasy asset. He bowls in the powerplay (swing) and at the death (cutters and yorkers). His wicket-taking ability across phases and excellent economy in the powerplay consistently earn him 40–60+ fantasy points. In bowler-friendly conditions, he's a top captain option.
Yuzvendra Chahal — Leg Spin Wicket-Taker
Chahal is IPL's all-time leading wicket-taker and brings proven fantasy returns to PBKS. He bowls 4 full overs in the middle and death overs, taking wickets and earning economy bonuses. On Mullanpur's flat surface he can be expensive — but his wicket hauls (3+ wicket bonuses = +15 pts extra) more than compensate.
Marcus Stoinis — All-Rounder with Big-Match Temperament
Stoinis bats aggressively in the middle order at 145–155 strike rate and bowls useful medium pace. His 40–60 run cameos combined with 1–2 wickets make him a reliable 60–80 point fantasy contributor. Excellent value pick and strong vice-captain option every PBKS match.
Marco Jansen — Left-Arm Pace All-Rounder
Jansen is an underrated fantasy pick. He bats at No. 7–8 and can hit the ball long (30-ball 40+), while bowling left-arm pace that swings at the top and holds its line at the death. In seaming conditions at Mullanpur, he's a top differential pick that many will overlook.
⚠️ Availability Alert — PBKS 2026
- Lockie Ferguson — Missing EARLY GAMES (paternity/parental leave — newborn son). Do not pick Ferguson for PBKS's first 2–3 matches. He returns mid-tournament and becomes a premium pick immediately.
PBKS Captain & Vice-Captain Picks
- Captain: Arshdeep Singh (bowling conditions) or Shreyas Iyer (batting surface)
- All-round captain: Marcus Stoinis — two disciplines from one multiplier
- Vice-Captain: Yuzvendra Chahal — 3-wicket hauls are realistic; 25×3 + 15 bonus = 90 base points
- When Ferguson returns: immediately becomes a captain-worthy pace bowling pick
Mullanpur (Mohali) & Dharamsala Venue Strategy
- Mullanpur: New stadium with good pace and bounce — pacers are reliable picks here
- Mullanpur: Tends to favour batsmen as the match progresses — include top-order batsmen
- Dharamsala (3 home games): One of IPL's most batting-friendly grounds at altitude — go heavy on batsmen at HPCA
- At Dharamsala: Spinners are expensive here — reduce spin picks significantly
Pick your Punjab Kings Fantasy XI for IPL 2026.
Build Your PBKS Fantasy XI →