IPL 2026: IPL winner unearths hidden gem for Punjab Kings for upcoming season

Former Kolkata Knight Riders and India cricketer Robin Uthappa has suggested Punjab Kings to utilize the services of uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Vinod wisely ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League. The youngster has played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in the past, and has been picked by PBKS for the next season.

Uthappa shared that someone like the young stumper-batter can be a superb addition to the batting line-up of the two-time runners-up, and can well be the performer that takes the franchise to their maiden title lift in the marquee tournament. He feels that Punjab require depth to their batting unit and the inclusion of Vishnu Vinod in there will help them achieve that to maximize their first-inning totals as well as chase big targets.

"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," Uthappa said via JioStar.

PBKS need a backup for Yuzvendra Chahal: Abhinav Mukund

Meanwhile, former cricketer Abhinav Mukund has also opined that the fitness concerns surrounding star leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal after the latter's absence from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and then the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy hint at the need to get a backup on board. Mukund suggested that the likes of Praveen Dubey or Cooper Connolly may be able to provide that option, however, reliability on Chahal remains heavy.

"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 Praveen 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," Mukund expressed.

PBKS squad for IPL 2026: 

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, Vishal Nishad, Praveen Dubey.