Irfan Pathan Reveals Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings Lineups for IPL 2026

In a recent video, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan shared his insights on the playing XI and Impact Player selections for Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings following the IPL 2026 auction. He praised Mumbai's auction strategy, highlighting key players like Quinton de Kock and Shardul Thakur. Pathan also provided his predictions for Punjab Kings, emphasizing the importance of new signing Cooper Connolly. Read on to find out the complete lineups and Pathan's expert analysis.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 17, 2025, 18:41 IST

Irfan Pathan's Insights on IPL 2026 Auction

Irfan Pathan, the former Indian all-rounder, has shared his insights on the playing XI and Impact Player selections for Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) following the IPL 2026 auction that took place in Abu Dhabi. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Pathan expressed his support for Quinton de Kock to open the batting alongside Rohit Sharma.

Pathan Praises Mumbai Indians' Auction Strategy

Pathan highlighted the middle order, selecting Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. He remarked, "Acquiring Quinton de Kock at base price showcases Mumbai's exceptional auction strategy. Their ability to secure such talent is remarkable, and luck seems to play a role in their recent acquisitions as they aim for the trophy again."

He also included all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who was traded from Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 2 crore, and selected Mayank Markande for the spin department, rounding out his XI with Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah.

Irfan Pathan's Mumbai Indians Playing XI for IPL 2026

The playing XI Pathan proposed for Mumbai Indians includes: Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Sherfane Rutherford, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, and Trent Boult. Potential Impact Player options are Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, and Allah Ghazanfar.

Pathan's Predictions for Punjab Kings

Pathan also shared his anticipated lineup for Punjab Kings (PBKS), selecting Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh as openers, followed by Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, and Marcus Stoinis.

He noted the addition of Cooper Connolly, an Australian all-rounder, who he believes will bring consistency to the team. Pathan stated, "With the departures of Josh Inglis and Maxwell, Connolly is seen as a suitable replacement. His left-handed batting style and ability to bowl left-arm spin make him a valuable asset. He is expected to perform consistently and seize opportunities."

Irfan Pathan's Punjab Kings Playing XI for IPL 2026

The predicted playing XI for Punjab Kings includes: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Cooper Connolly, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, and either Harpreet Brar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, or Yash Thakur, along with Lockie Ferguson and Arshdeep Singh. The Impact Player option is Yuzvendra Chahal.