Punjab Kings went into IPL 2026 with a renewed squad under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy and Ricky Ponting's coaching. Their bowling attack was significantly improved with world-class pace options, while their batting had depth and firepower. Mullanpur — their relatively new home ground — added an interesting venue dynamic to PBKS fantasy picks all season.
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.
IPL 2026 Season Recap — PBKS
Lockie Ferguson was away on paternity leave for the opening games before returning as a premium pace option mid-tournament, but it wasn't enough — PBKS missed the playoffs, which went to RCB, Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with RCB beating GT in the Final to retain the title. Arshdeep and Chahal's returns above are unaffected by any of that and still hold up as your reference points.
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
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.
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