Punjab Kings Kick Off IPL 2026 with Rituals and New Signings
Punjab Kings Prepare for IPL 2026 Season
Chandigarh, India - On March 25, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) held a ceremonial puja at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh as they gear up for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
Among those in attendance were head coach Ricky Ponting, spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, and wicketkeeping coach Brad Haddin. The team sought divine blessings for a successful season, as they prepare for what is expected to be an exhilarating campaign.
In a significant boost to their squad, Australian players Marcus Stoinis and Cooper Connolly have officially joined the PBKS team in Mohali. The pair arrived on Wednesday, ready to integrate with their teammates as preparations intensify for the IPL 2026.
Upon their arrival at the New International Cricket Stadium, the players were greeted with enthusiasm, reflecting the team's positive spirit.
The addition of Stoinis and Connolly enhances the Punjab Kings' roster, infusing a blend of seasoned international experience and youthful vigor into the squad.
Having finished as runners-up last season, the Kings have been diligently training in recent weeks. They are now focused on their eagerly awaited season opener against the Gujarat Giants.
This match is set to take place in front of their home fans on March 31. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the Punjab Kings reached the IPL 2026 finals but narrowly lost to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by Rajat Patidar, by just six runs.
In the IPL 2025 final, RCB posted a total of 190 runs, aided by Virat Kohli's 43 runs and solid contributions from the middle order. Punjab, chasing a target of 191 for their first IPL title, fell short despite a remarkable 61 runs off 30 balls from Shashank Singh.
The complete Punjab Kings squad for IPL 2026 includes: Arshdeep Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Harpreet Brar, Lockie Ferguson, Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Owen, Musheer Khan, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Suryansh Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Cooper Connolly, Pravin Dubey, Vishal Nishad, and Ben Dwarshuis.