India, March 27 -- It was a case of so near yet so far for the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last season. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the franchise was a force to be reckoned with in the 2025 edition, but narrowly missed out on the title after losing the final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The heartbreak, however, could serve as motivation heading into the 2026 season, which begins on March 28. Punjab Kings open their campaign on March 31 against the 2022 champions, the Gujarat Titans.

Pacer Yash Thakur, who featured in just two matches for the franchise last season, is expected to play a bigger role in 2026, especially with Lockie Ferguson set to join the squad late due to personal reasons. With the T...