IPL 2026: 3 players Punjab Kings can sign to replace Shreyas Iyer if he misses

The dust settled after the IPL 2026 Auctionand the teams are now theoretically locked. However, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) camp. The franchise, which made headlines by breaking records to acquire Shreyas Iyer for a whopping sum of INR 26.75 crores in the IPL 2025 auction, is now facing a potential nightmare: the unavailability of its captain and batting stalwart.

With the bidding window closed, the franchise must rely on the injury replacement protocol (signing unsold players) or the trade window to fill the void.

IPL 2026: 3 potential candidates Punjab Kings can target if Shreyas Iyer misses out

1) Mayank Agarwal

The most logical, albeit dramatic, solution to the Iyer problem is a reunion with former captain Mayank Agarwal. Having gone surprisingly unsold in the IPL 2026 auction – likely due to a high base price or a decline in T20 strike rate in the previous season – Agarwal remains one of the most experienced free agents available in the pool.

Agarwal’s recent domestic form for Karnataka has been a reminder of his class. In the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he amassed over 400 runs, showing that he still possesses the hunger to dominate attacks. For PBKS, this makes perfect sense. Agarwal understands the franchise culture perfectly. If Iyer is out, Punjab not only loses a batter but also a captain. Agarwal can easily step into the leadership group (by supporting a stand-in captain or taking the armband himself) and stabilize the top order. His ability to anchor innings allows for explosive hitters like Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh to play freely, emulating the role Iyer was destined to play.

2) Yash Dhull

If the Punjab team is looking for a straight tactical swap – a right-handed No. 3 capable of building an innings – Yash Dhull is the standout candidate on the unsold list. The 2022 U-19 World Cup-winning captain has often been seen as a red-ball specialist, causing him to be overlooked at the auction, but his recent white-ball development suggests he is ready for the big stage.

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Dhull has looked sharp in the 2025-26 domestic season. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he played the role of the accumulator to perfection for Delhi. He tightened his technique against pace and improved his strike spin against spin in the middle overs. The signing of Dhull allows PBKS to maintain its batting structure. He can slot right in at the No. 3 position, providing the stability needed to avoid collapses – a recurring problem for the franchise. It’s a low-risk, high-potential investment that’s desperate to prove its detractors wrong.

3) Abhinav Manohar

If the Punjab leadership decides it cannot replace Iyer’s stability, it may choose to redouble its aggressiveness. Enter Abhinav Manohar. It was a shock to many when the Karnataka net-hitter remained unsold, especially considering the premium placed on Indian finishers.

PBKS often struggles with stagnation in the middle overs (7-15), a phase that Iyer usually dominates through smart placement. Manohar dominates him with brute force. His ability to hit sixes from the first ball makes him a dangerous asset against spin. His recent exploits in the Maharaja Trophy, where he scored at a strike rate close to 170, prove that he is in touch. Bringing him in would require a reshuffle of the batting order – perhaps pushing an all-rounder to No. 3 – but it would give Punjab a terrifying lower-middle order. A finishing duo of Abhinav Manohar and Marcus Stoinis could potentially win games in impossible situations, mitigating the loss of their captain’s scoring volume through sheer impact.

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