After the dust has settled IPL 2026 Auctionin theory the team is now locked in. However, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) camp. The franchise, which made headlines with its record-breaking acquisition of Shreyas Iyer for a whopping Rs 2,675 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, now faces a potential nightmare: the absence of its skipper and batting linchpin.

With the auction window closed, teams must rely on injury replacement deals (signing unsold players) or the trade window to fill the void.

IPL 2026: 3 potential candidates that Kings XI Punjab could target if Shreyas Iyer misses out

1) Mayank Agarwal

The most logical yet dramatic solution to Iyer’s problem is a reunion with former captain Mayank Agarwal. Agarwal was surprisingly unsold in the 2026 IPL auction (possibly due to a higher T20 strike rate or a drop in T20 strike rate last season), but he remains one of the most experienced free agents in the talent pool.

Agarwal’s recent domestic performances for Karnataka are reminiscent of his class. He accumulated over 400 points in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, showing that he still has the desire to dominate the attack. For PBKS, this makes perfect sense. Agarwal knows the culture of the team well. If Iyer is out, Punjab will not only lose a batsman but also a captain. Agarwal can seamlessly step into the leadership (either backing the stand-in captain or wearing the armband himself) and stabilizing the order at the top. His ability to stabilize the innings makes explosive batsmen like Prabhusimran Singh Shashank Singh was given free rein to emulate the role Iyer was destined to play.

2) Yash Durr

If the Punjab side are looking for a straightforward tactical exchange – a right-hand number three who can organize an innings – Yash Dhull is the top of the unsold list. The 2022 U-19 World Cup-winning skipper has often been seen as a red-ball specialist, leading to him being overlooked at auctions, but his recent white-ball evolution suggests he’s ready for the big stage.

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Doerr has a strong domestic season in 2025-26. He played the role of the accumulator perfectly for Delhi during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He strengthened his technique against speed and improved his spin against spin in the mid-overs. Signing Durr allows PBKS to maintain their batting structure. He could move right into the third spot and provide the stability needed to prevent collapse – a recurring problem with the team. He is a low-risk, high-potential investor eager to prove his critics wrong.

3) Abhinav Manohar

If the Punjab management feels they cannot replace Iyer’s consistency, they may opt to double down on their attack. Abhinav Manohar enters the scene. Many were shocked when the clean-cut Karnataka batsman failed to sell, especially considering the premium price paid to the Indian finisher.

PBKS often struggled with stagnation in the midfield (7-15), and Iyer usually dominated that phase through clever placement. Manohar ruled it through brute force. His ability to hit sixes from ball one makes him a dangerous asset against spin. His recent performance in the Maharaja Trophy, where he scored close to 170, is a testament to his ability. Bringing him in would require a reshuffling of the batting order – perhaps pushing an all-rounder to No. 3 – but it would give Punjab a scary bottom-middle order. The finishing duo of Abhinav Manohar and Marcus Stoinis has the potential to win games in unlikely situations, mitigating the loss of runs from the captain with a huge impact.

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